Pakistan floods prompt warning system scrutiny

Torrential rains trigger further flash floods in two villages in Indian controlled Kashmir and in Pakistan’s Buner district, drawing scrutiny of warning systems and relief efforts.

Pakistan defends flood response after hundreds killed

Torrential rains triggered flash floods in Kathua district of Indian controlled Kashmir, killing seven and injuring five overnight. In nearby Kishtwar district, rescue teams continue searching in the village of Chositi after floods during a Hindu pilgrimage last week left about 60 dead, 150 injured and 300 rescued. In Pakistan’s Buner district, authorities reported 54 bodies recovered as crews clear rocks and mud while many residents remain missing and roads are damaged.

Authorities say the monsoon has been unusually heavy this year, with higher than normal rainfall since late June and more than 600 people killed in Pakistan this season. Officials warn of more heavy rain and possible landslides through the coming days as rescue work continues and roads slowly reopen in some villages.

Officials defend the response but acknowledge gaps in early warnings for sudden cloudbursts. Residents describe the pain of losing homes and loved ones and question whether alerts reached remote areas in time. The episode underscores how climate change is widening the pace and reach of extreme weather in South Asia, outpacing traditional warning networks and complicating relief logistics in rugged terrain. The crisis also tests public trust in government agencies responsible for safety, a dynamic that could influence policy debates on disaster funding and climate adaptation.

Highlights

Disaster plans must move faster than the climate before more lives are lost.