New Delhi: The impact of climate change in the country is becoming steadily more serious. According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth report ‘Climate India 2026’, between January and September 2026, extreme weather events were recorded somewhere in the country on 251 of 273 days, or nearly 92 percent of the days. These events killed 3,320 people, while crops on 42.5 lakh hectares of agricultural land were affected.
According to the report, 128,334 houses were damaged or destroyed during this period and 47,244 animals died. Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh were among the states most affected by the weather impact. In both states, extreme weather events were recorded on nearly 64 percent of the days in the first nine months of the year. However, Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of deaths, with 811 people losing their lives. Maharashtra recorded 286 deaths and Bihar 245.
Maharashtra was the worst affected in terms of crop losses. Agricultural area spread over 28.3 lakh hectares was damaged there. In Uttar Pradesh, 6.9 lakh hectares of crops were affected, while in Bihar the figure was 2.3 lakh hectares. At the regional level, Northwest India recorded the highest number of extreme weather days at 235.
The report also expressed concern over changing weather cycles. February 2026 was the country’s driest February since 1901 and the fourth warmest February in 125 years. Winters are becoming warmer and cold wave incidents are declining. Despite this, heavy rain, floods or landslides occurred in some part of the country on all 122 days of the monsoon.
A five-year analysis shows that between 2022 and 2026, extreme weather events killed 16,303 people and affected more than 2.06 crore hectares of crop area. CSE Director General Sunita Narain said that along with providing relief after disasters, it is now essential to work on priority to reduce risk, strengthen drainage systems, recharge water and protect green areas.
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