India Faces Record Displacements from Extreme Weather Events in 2024

India has witnessed a staggering 5.4 million displacements in 2024, as revealed by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) on Tuesday. This marks the highest number in 12 years, driven by catastrophic floods, storms, and other natural disasters across the nation.

Floods accounted for two-thirds of these displacements. Assam alone recorded 2.5 million movements due to unprecedented flooding. The IDMC attributes this alarming trend to climate change, deforestation, erosion, and the inadequate maintenance of vital infrastructure, such as dams and embankments.

Major storms like cyclone Dana and Remal were also significant contributors. Over a million people were displaced due to Dana, while Remal caused substantial flooding and evacuations, particularly in regions like Odisha, West Bengal, and Assam. As these extreme weather events increase in frequency, the challenges of managing such humanitarian crises grow proportionately.

(With inputs from agencies.)