New Delhi, Oct 16 (PTI) — Around 15 million people in India were affected by wildfires in 2024–25, with Uttar Pradesh emerging as the most impacted region, according to a new global analysis published in the journal Earth System Science Data.
The report found that Uttar Pradesh witnessed its worst wildfire season on record, fuelled by crop burning, heatwaves, and dry fuel accumulation. These fires also contributed to severe haze episodes in New Delhi in November 2024, with PM2.5 levels reaching 13 times the World Health Organization’s daily standard.
The study, part of the annual State of Wildfires report by researchers from the University of East Anglia and the UK Met Office, estimated that 100 million people worldwide were exposed to wildfires during 2024–25. India and the Democratic Republic of the Congo each recorded about 15 million affected, followed by Nigeria, China, Mozambique and South Sudan.
Globally, wildfires burned 3.7 million square kilometres—an area larger than India—and released over 8 billion tonnes of CO₂, about 10% above the long-term average. Large fires in South America and Canada, intensified by climate change, drove this increase.
Within India, Uttar Pradesh had the highest population exposure at 4.6 million, followed by Punjab with 3.5 million. The report also ranked India first globally in infrastructure exposure, with USD 44 billion worth of assets at risk, ahead of the US and China.
Researchers warned that human-induced climate change is making extreme wildfires more frequent and intense, posing growing risks to lives, property and ecosystems.
Category: Breaking News
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