Srinagar, Dec 20: Amid growing concerns over climate change and increasingly erratic weather patterns, weather-related disasters claimed 199 lives across Jammu and Kashmir during 2025, with the Jammu division emerging as the worst-affected region in terms of fatalities.
These details were shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Rajya Sabha.
The ministry said that though it does not centrally maintain the data regarding loss of life and property caused due to any calamity, as per information received from the J&K administration, “199 human lives and 11,693 livestock are lost and 8404 houses and 77,915 hectare crop area damaged as of December 10, 2025, due to floods and heavy rains during 2025.”
Explaining the funding mechanism for disaster relief, the ministry told the House, “In the wake of notified disasters, the financial assistance to states is provided from State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), whereas, in case of Union Territories, the relief is provided from Union Territory Disaster Response Fund (UTDRF).”
Providing details of available funds, the government said, “An amount of Rs 2499 crore has been stated to be available as opening balance as on April 1, 2025, by J&K for management of relief for notified natural disasters, including flood and landslides in the affected areas during 2025-26.”
It informed the Parliament that during 2025-26, “an amount of Rs 279 crore has been allocated to J&K with respect to Disaster Response Fund (DRF) under Demand 58, out of which, an amount of Rs 209.25 crore had been released on August 29, 2025.”
On damage assessment, the ministry said, “In the instant case of flood and landslide in J&K, an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) was constituted on August 27, 2025, without receipt of a memorandum from J&K.”
It said that the team “visited the affected areas for on-the-spot assessment of damages from September 3-8, 2025,” and “based on the report received from the IMCT, further action is taken, as per the established procedure.”
The House was also informed that “an amount of Rs 140.50 lakh was directly transferred online in respect of 63 deaths and 29 injured persons affected due to the cloudburst incident that occurred in Kishtwar district on August 14, 2025, under the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).”
Alongside the Centre’s reply, official relief data placed on record shows that the Jammu division recorded a record tally of fatalities due to natural calamities in J&K.
Of the 152 deaths covered under the financial assistance framework, 151 were reported from the Jammu division, while the Kashmir division accounted for one fatality.
Among the districts, Kishtwar emerged as the worst-hit with 66 deaths and 127 injuries, followed by Reasi with 48 deaths and 32 injuries.
Kathua reported 10 deaths and 13 injuries, while Jammu district recorded eight fatalities.
Other affected districts in the Jammu division include Doda with six deaths, Ramban with five, Rajouri with four, Udhampur with three and Poonch with one death, while Samba reported no casualties.
In contrast, the Kashmir division recorded minimal impact, with Anantnag reporting one death and Kupwara one injury.
All other districts in Kashmir reported no deaths or injuries linked to natural calamities.