1. The Kashmir earthquake
On October 8, a massive earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale shook Pakistan and India.
Villages were devastated in Kashmir and over 80,000 people died in India and Pakistan.
In a gesture of friendship, India offered to send troops to Pakistan occupied Kashmir to help with relief work as the earthquake had caused more misery in PoK.
The Pakistan foreign ministry agreed to accept Indian help -- though not Indian troops -- and indicated its willingness to reciprocate, given how India too had suffered devastation.
The borders on both sides were opened for the first time so that common people could cross over for relief material and medical treatment.
2. The rain on July 26
No one could believe a tragedy like this could hit Mumbai.
The rain gods created havoc when the city received 95 cm rain on one day alone -- the highest in the century.
Large parts of suburban Mumbai were flooded. Children and adults were stranded with no way to reach their homes.
In 24 hours more than 400 people died.
More bad news followed as the direction of rain shifted from Mumbai to other parts of Maharashtra.
In a week nearly 1,000 people died.
3. The Delhi blasts
Terrorists struck Delhi on October 29 -- on the eve of Diwali and Eid, triggering three explosions in two city markets and outside a bus. At least 55 people were killed and 155 were injured.
The first explosion took place at 1740 IST in the busy Paharganj market. The market, which is frequented by foreigners, was bustling with shoppers.
Minutes later, another explosion rocked the Sarojini Nagar Market in south Delhi, where most of the casualties were reported.
Another blast took place 10 km further south in the Govindpuri area.
A month later, Tariq Ahmed Dar, allegedly a member of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist group and an award-winning sales executive at Johnson & Johnson, was arrested by the Delhi police for involvement in the crime. Delhi Police Commissioner K K Paul later claimed Dar had confessed to the crime, but his family denied his involvement in the blasts.
4. Soldiers and suicide
This year, 100 soldiers and paramilitary troopers committed suicide.
Most of the cases were reported from the Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir where insurgency has declined, but not died down.
Troops at the front often spend many sleepless nights in the pursuit of terrorists.
Experts cite stressful conditions, inadequate housing, paltry salaries, few promotion avenues, strict leave restrictions and early retirement as some of the causes for this dreadful tragedy.
5. 100 died in train accident
After unseasonal floods, the Delta Express crashed near the town of Veligonda, south of Hyderabad, on October 29.
Seven of the train's 14 coaches and its engine derailed. At least three coaches fell into floodwaters.
Despite the administration's rescue efforts, a hundred people died in the year's worst rail disaster.
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