250 Indians, Pakistanis die as flash floods batter South Asia

Flash floods triggered by heavy rains have killed more than 250 people in Pakistan and India, bringing severe devastation across the South Asian region.

Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority said at least 194 people had died and 23 were injured in the past 24 hours. In India’s northernmost region of Jammu and Kashmir, at least 60 people were killed and more than 100 injured.

Local police and other agencies are carrying out search and rescue operations in Kishtwar in India, about 200 kilometres from Srinagar, and in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan, which is the worst hit. Authorities in India estimate scores of people remain buried under the debris.

Pakistan has so far rescued more than 2,000 people stranded in the floods, according to posts by the provincial government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

In a post on X on Friday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he would “review the rescue operation and assess what further help is required.”

The cloudburst triggered landslides and mudslides, destroying houses, temples, a bridge, government buildings and vehicles. A community kitchen for pilgrims, along with a nearby security camp, was washed away.

The cloudburst struck around 12:30 PM on Thursday in the Chisoti area, about 90 km from Kishtwar town, the last motorable village en route to the Machail Mata temple. A large number of pilgrims were in the area for the annual yatra, which began on July 25 and was scheduled to conclude on September 5. Many people in Hamori village nearby could not be contacted as power lines were down and mobile devices had no charge.

India’s weather department has predicted above-average rainfall for the June-September monsoon. Cloudbursts, floods and landslides have claimed lives in recent months, with hilly areas worst affected. Last week, floods swept away an entire village in Uttarakhand.

At least 477 people have died in Pakistan since June due to floods. Authorities said this year’s monsoon is 65% more intense than last year and future rainy seasons are likely to be more severe due to climate change.