Sudden, torrential monsoon rains have claimed the lives of over 400 people across Pakistan, India-administered Kashmir, and Nepal, with dozens still missing and feared dead. The catastrophic flooding has washed away entire villages, blocked roads, and triggered deadly landslides.
In northwestern Pakistan, at least 321 people were killed within 48 hours, with ten villages in the Buner region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province completely devastated. “Over 120 bodies have been recovered from this area alone,” said Bilal Faizi, spokesperson for Rescue 122. “Just a few days ago, there was a vibrant, living community here. Now, there’s nothing but heaps of large rocks and debris.”
In a tragic incident during relief efforts, five crew members died when a helicopter crashed in the same province.
Nepal floods: At least 100 dead and dozens missing after days of heavy rainfallhttps://t.co/GwqBzuL23P pic.twitter.com/i2MB9HdQos
— BBC Weather (@bbcweather) September 29, 2024
In India-administered Kashmir, the town of Chashoti, a key Hindu pilgrimage site, saw at least 60 deaths and over 200 people reported missing. Dramatic footage showed floodwaters transforming roads into rivers, while homes and vehicles were swept away in the mountainous terrain.
In Nepal, at least 41 people were confirmed dead and 121 injured, as landslides and floods ravaged multiple districts.
Eyewitness Farhad Ali, a student in Salarzai, Pakistan, described the horror: “It felt like doomsday had arrived, with scenes straight out of the end of the world”, CNN reports.
Experts blame a climate change-fueled monsoon, intensified by a cloudburst, a rare downpour of over 100mm of rain in an hour.
As rain continues to batter the region, authorities are warning of more flash floods, urging people to avoid travel and stay away from water bodies. Emergency rescue operations remain ongoing.
