population: 1.08 billion, over 16 percent of the world's population; area: 3.29 million sq. km (=1.27 million sq. miles), coastline of 7,500 km (=4,600 miles), seventh largest country in the world.

893 Earthquake: estimated 180,000 people died

1737 October 11th. Earthquake, Calcutta: 300,000 people died

1934 January 15th. Earthquake: magnitude 8.4, 10,700 people died

1935 May 31st. Earthquake, Quetta: killed estimated 50,000 people, magnitude 7.6

1950 August 15th. Earthquake, Assum: magnitude 8.4, 30,000 people died

1953 May 2nd. Airplane crash Calcutta: BOAC Comet G-ALYV, broke up in flight during an encounter with a monsoon thunderstorm 14 minutes after takeoff from Calcutta airport, all 43 people died

1978 January 1st. Airplane crash Bombay: Air India Boeing 747, exploded and plunged into sea minutes after takeoff, all 213 people died

1981 June 6th. Train crash, near Mansi: Train with over 500 passengers braked to avoid hitting a cow, causing the train to plunge off a bridge into Baghmati River; at least 268 people died, more than 300 others were reported missing

1984 October 31st. AssassinationNew Delhi: Prime Minister Indira Ghandhi

1988 August Train crash, Kerala: Train plunged into a lake, 127 people died

1989 April Train crash, Jhansi: Train derailed in the station, 167 people died

1995 August 20th. Train crash, Firozabag: Two-train collision, estimated 300 people died and more than 400 were injured

1996 November 12th. Airplane crash Idia Charkhi, Dadri: mid-air collision between Saudi Arabian Airways Boeing 747 and Kazak Airlines Alyushin 76, all 349 people died

1996 December 24th. Airplane Crash: Indian Air Force plane crashed, 20 people died

1998 November 26th. Train crash, near Khanna: two-train collision, 2,500 passengers on board, 201 people died, at least 250 were injured

1999 March Earthquake, northern state of Uttar Pradesh: magnitude 6.8, estimated 110 people died, over 300 were injured, and more than 5,000 homes destroyed

1999 March 7th. Airplane Crash, New Delhi: Military airplane crashed into shanty village in New Delhi, 21 people died.

1999 August 3rd. Train crash, Gaisal: Head-on collision of two express -trains: Estimated 500 people died, nearly 1,000 of the estimated 2,500 passengers were injured

1999 September Floods, districts of West Bengal: more than five million people severely affected

1999 October Cyclone, state of coastal Orrisa: 15 million people were directly affected, over two million houses were destroyed, and more than 10,000 people died

2000 July 17th. Airplane Crash, Patna Airport: Indian Alliance Air Boeing 737 crashed during landing approach 1 mile short of the runway into residential area; six people on the ground and 51 people aboard perished, 6 passengers survived.