Flash floods triggered by sudden, intense downpours hit India, Pakistan hard Leave 300+ Dead
At least 300 people have died and dozens more remain missing after torrential rains triggered flash floods across parts of India and Pakistan, officials reported on Friday. Rescue operations have brought around 1,600 people to safety from mountainous regions in both countries, but many areas remain at risk.
The flooding began Thursday in Indian-administered Kashmir, following sudden, intense rainfall—known as cloudbursts—that overwhelmed the region’s natural drainage systems. The deluge quickly spread to northern and northwestern Pakistan, causing landslides and widespread destruction.
In the Himalayan village of Chosoti, Indian rescuers continued their search Friday for at least 80 people still unaccounted for after devastating floods the previous day killed 60 residents. Although more than 300 people were rescued on Thursday, operations were suspended overnight and resumed at first light. Officials fear many of the missing may have been swept away in the rushing waters.
Hospitals in the area have treated at least 50 people for serious injuries, many of whom were pulled from mud- and debris-filled streams.
In Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, flash floods have claimed at least 243 lives, including 157 reported fatalities in Buner district alone on Friday. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with dozens still missing. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened an emergency meeting and directed the national disaster-management authority to expedite evacuations and assist affected communities, including stranded tourists.
Experts warn that such extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common in the Himalayan regions of both countries, with climate change playing a significant role in the frequency and intensity of cloudbursts.
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