Photogallery Yearender 2018: Deadly disasters and accidents in India

Kerala witnessed its worst flood in a century, claiming at least 491 lives and 14 still missing. The deadly deluge began in June with the torrential rains and landslides and quickly escalated to one of largest natural disasters of 2018 across the world. The worst-hit districts were Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Thrissur and Wayanad. At the height of the deluge, 14.5 lakh people took shelter in over 3,000 relief camps. A total of 4,778 persons are still housed in 120 relief camps. The Centre later declared this calamity of 'severe nature'. For the first time in the history of the state, 35 out of 54 dams in Kerala were opened.

As per estimates, the floods caused a destruction of over Rs 40,000 crore. Relief operations were stunted for days as joint forces struggled to reach remote areas to rescue stranded people. As flood water started receding, the threat of epidemic and pandemic spread. Leptospirosis, commonly known as 'rat fever' that occurs after the outbreak of water-borne diseases, claimed at least 12 lives. Nearly 372 confirmed cases of Leptospirosis have been reported since August 1. NASA's before-after images of Kerala showed the massive extent of floods. The state is still recovering from the worst calamity it has faced since 1924.

At least 59 people were killed and several injured after a speeding train mowed down a crowd participating in the Dusshera revelries on October 20. Disturbing video footage and images showed many standing across the railway tracks filming the celebrations on their mobile phones when the tragedy struck. Most dead in the incident were migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

2018 started with the fallout of Kamala Mill Compound on December 29, 2017, that claimed 14 lives. Throughout the year, there were reports of several fires erupting across the maximum city.

Then on December 17, a massive blaze swept through government-run ESIC Kamgar hospital killing 10 people and leaving 141 patients and visitors injured, making it one of the deadliest hospital fire accidents in the country. On December 28, another fire broke out in a 16-storeyed Sargam Society, killing five persons including senior citizens.

Cyclone Titli ravaged through Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, leaving at least 61 dead and hundreds injured. Several were rendered homeless. In Odisha alone, the cyclone and subsequent floods caused a loss of about Rs 2,765 crore and affected 60.11 lakh people.

Cyclone 'Gaja' had crossed the Tamil Nadu coast early on November 16 between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam, about 300 km from Chennai. It left behind a trail of destruction in Nagapattinam district and also in several other districts. The cyclone has claimed 63 lives, with Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and Pudukottai being the worst affected districts.

Devastating floods, heavy rain and landslides created havoc in several northeastern states. At least 21 people have died in flash floods and rainfall-induced landslides in Manipur and Tripura and around 30,000 people were rescued from flood-affected regions in Assam and Tripura.

A bridge in Majerhat area of south Kolkata collapsed leaving several trapped under the debris. Three persons died and many injured. Locals and relief teams rushed to the spot to rescue of those trapped and tried to pull the people out of the rubble.