365 DAYS OF CHAOS: THE EVENTS THAT DEFINED 2025
Month-wise look at the major events of 2025 that shook nations and claimed thousands of lives
The year 2025 will be remembered as one of the most turbulent years in recent history. From deadly aviation disasters and crowd stampedes to powerful earthquakes, terror attacks, and extreme climate events, a series of incidents left an indelible mark on the world.
Here is a month-wise look at the major events of 2025 that shook nations and claimed thousands of lives:
JANUARY
New Orleans Truck Attack (Jan 1): An ISIS-inspired attacker rammed a truck into New Year’s Day crowds, killing 14 and injuring 57.
California Wildfires (Jan 7): The Palisades and Eaton fires devastated Los Angeles, destroying over 16,000 structures and killing 29.
Tibet Earthquake (Jan 8): A 7.1-magnitude quake in Tingri County killed at least 126 people.
Saif Ali Khan Stabbing (Jan 16): The Bollywood actor survived a knife attack during a robbery attempt at his Mumbai home.
Potomac Mid-Air Collision (Jan 29): An American Airlines jet collided with a U.S. Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., leaving no survivors.
Maha Kumbh Mela Tragedy (Jan 29): A massive crowd crush in Prayagraj during Mauni Amavasya led to 30–37 confirmed deaths.
FEBRUARY
New Delhi Railway Station Stampede (Feb 15): Overcrowding and train delays killed at least 18 pilgrims returning from Kumbh Mela.
MARCH
Myanmar Earthquake (Mar 28): A powerful 7.7-magnitude quake caused widespread destruction and claimed more than 5,400 lives.
APRIL
Death of Pope Francis (Apr 21): The Catholic world mourned the passing of Pope Francis. Robert Francis Prevost was later elected as Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American pope.
Pahalgam Terror Attack (Apr 22): Militants opened fire on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley, killing 26 civilians.
MAY
Operation Sindoor (May 6–10): India carried out retaliatory strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan, leading to four days of drone and missile exchanges before a ceasefire.
JUNE
Bengaluru Victory Stampede (Jun 4): Celebrations for RCB’s IPL victory turned tragic, killing 11 people.
Air India Flight 171 Crash (Jun 12): A Boeing 787 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people, one of the deadliest air disasters of the decade.
SEPTEMBER
Big Loss for Assam. Zubeen Garg, the beloved Assamese singer known as the “King of Humming,” tragically passed away in Singapore on September 19, 2025, at age 52, becoming an immortal legend in Indian music, particularly for his vast contributions to Assamese and Bollywood leaving a void felt by millions with massive tributes, including the world’s fourth-largest public gathering at his funeral in Guwahati, Assam.
OCTOBER
Cyclone Montha (October/November): This cyclone was the most destructive of several cyclones in the Bay of Bengal, causing approximately Rs 53 billion in damage to India’s coastal regions. The cyclone started from October 25 and continued till November.
NOVEMBER
Red Fort Car Explosion (November 10): A car bomb near Delhi’s Red Fort killed at least 12 to 15 people, prompting a national security alert.
Tejas Fighter Crash (November 21): An Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Airshow, resulting in the death of the pilot.
Aravalli Hills Definition Sparks Concern
The government has redefined the Aravalli Hills, counting only landforms over 100 meters high. Officials say this helps clarify mining rules across Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and Delhi. But environmentalists warn that the change could threaten the ecologically sensitive region, which is vital for biodiversity, groundwater, and climate regulation.
However, some of the other incidents that took place are – Crowd crushes were also reported at the Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala (January 8, 6 deaths) and the Rath Yatra in Puri (June 29, 3 deaths). Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated in Utah (September 10).
