Flash Floods Kill Over 300 in Pakistan and Kashmir
Severe monsoon rains have triggered devastating floods and landslides in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, leaving more than 300 people dead and dozens of communities in crisis, according to BBC News.
Disaster officials report that the worst-hit area is Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where most fatalities occurred. At least 74 homes were destroyed, and a military rescue helicopter crashed during relief operations, killing its five crew members.
In Pakistan-administered Kashmir, nine deaths were confirmed, while five more were reported in Gilgit-Baltistan. Authorities have warned that heavy rainfall will continue until 21 August, with several districts declared disaster zones.
Survivors described the scene as apocalyptic. One man in Buner told AFP:
“I heard a loud noise as if the mountain was sliding. When I ran outside, the ground was trembling. It felt like the end of the world.”
Images from Bajaur showed funeral prayers as people mourned victims while rescue workers searched through mud-soaked hillsides. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has declared a day of mourning.
In Indian-administered Kashmir, at least 60 people were killed after floods ripped through a Himalayan village.
BBC reports that South Asia’s annual monsoon rains are becoming increasingly dangerous. Punjab province saw 73% more rain in July than the year before, with more deaths recorded than in the entire 2024 monsoon season.
Scientists link these disasters to climate change, pointing to rapid glacial melt in northern Pakistan. As glaciers retreat, mountainsides weaken, and landslides become more likely during heavy rainfall.
While investigations continue, experts warn that glacier melt is a contributing factor in the scale of this year’s flooding.
(Source: BBC News)