Preliminary investigation of rainfall-induced landslides and related damages by the 2025 extreme monsoon in the Northwestern Himalayan region

Abstract In 2025, the Northwestern Himalayan region experienced unprecedented monsoonal rainfall resulting in one of the most destructive events in recent decades. In India, 2025 monsoon caused 2,277 floods and heavy rainfall events, claiming 1,528 lives nationwide. The Southwest Monsoon season delivered 108% of Long Period Average (LPA) rainfall across India, with Northwest India recording a 127% of LPA (highest since 2001). Similar numbers were reported in Pakistan with 1,006 people killed and 1,063 injured due to floods and landslides, affecting 6.9 million people countrywide. This article systematically discusses the factors contributing to slope instability and infrastructure damage incurred based on data collected from various reliable sources including newspapers, multimedia and an on-site field investigation. The study shows that while rainfall remains the primary trigger for slope failures, it is the cumulative effect of human-induced factors and infrastructure expansion on fragile slopes that turn these natural phenomena into large-scale disasters with high casualties and economic losses.