South Asia floods escalate

Cloudbursts and heavy monsoon rains have killed more than 300 people across Pakistan and India, with hundreds missing and relief work hampered by dangerous conditions.

Flood toll tops 300 in Pakistan and India as monsoon rains worsen disaster

Across Pakistan, floods from cloudbursts and heavy rains have killed at least 300 people. Officials said 1,300 tourists were rescued from a mountainous area hit by landslides, and 35 people remained missing. Most deaths occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the Provincial Disaster Management Authority said more than 110 people died due to cloudbursts, floods and collapsed roofs. A government helicopter carrying relief goods crashed in Mohmand district amid bad weather, killing five crew members, and seven more people died in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

In India-administered Kashmir, flooding killed at least 60 people in Chositi and about 80 are missing. The village is near the Machail Mata shrine, crowded with pilgrims, and authorities warned that many missing could have been washed away. Meteorologists warned that cloudbursts in the Himalayas are becoming more common, intensifying monsoon hazards. A World Weather Attribution study found rainfall in Pakistan from late June to late July was 10% to 15% heavier due to climate change.

These events show how climate change is raising the risk of extreme rainfall in mountain regions where infrastructure often struggles to keep up with danger. Landslides, rooves collapsing, and rough terrain complicate rescue work and delay aid. The disaster also tests cross border cooperation as Pakistan and India respond with rescue teams and warnings while juggling scarce resources.

Beyond immediate aid, the crisis highlights the need for safer housing, better drainage, and clearer evacuation routes in vulnerable communities. It also raises questions about how crowded pilgrimage sites are managed and how to fund long term climate adaptation in volatile zones.

Highlights

Recovery will depend on durable flood safeguards and stronger regional cooperation.