Pakistan, India-administered Kashmir, and Nepal recently experienced “cloud burst” style torrential rain, with sudden floods and landslides sweeping through multiple areas, causing at least 400 deaths and hundreds missing, as the disaster continues to escalate.
In northwestern Pakistan, over 300 people have tragically lost their lives within just 48 hours. The Buner region in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has been the hardest hit, with over a dozen villages washed away by floods, roads and bridges destroyed, making it difficult for rescuers to access the area, with fears that dozens may still be buried under rubble. A spokesperson for the rescue organization “Rescue 122,” Bilal Faizi, told CNN, “More than 120 bodies have been recovered here. A few days ago, this was a vibrant community, but now it’s just a pile of rocks and rubble.”
According to local officials, a helicopter involved in the rescue mission crashed due to severe weather conditions, resulting in the loss of five crew members. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that both military and civilian rescue teams are working tirelessly to save lives and emphasized, “Our hearts are with the families who have lost their loved ones, as well as with those who have been injured, lost their homes, and livelihoods.”
In India-administered Kashmir’s Chashoti, at least 60 people have lost their lives on Friday, with over 200 individuals reported missing. This town is a popular pilgrimage site for Hindu devotees, and the flooding occurred when pilgrims were gathered. Local officials described bodies being washed away, with the community center completely destroyed. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah subsequently canceled some of the Independence Day celebrations in response to the tragic events.
Nepal’s National Disaster Management Department reported at least 41 deaths and 121 injuries.
Eyewitnesses described the scenes as resembling “doomsday.” Farhad Ali, a student from Salarzai in northern Pakistan, recounted, “The rain was so intense that the ground was shaking at one point. We rushed outside and saw floods carrying huge rocks rushing down.”
Experts have noted that this rainfall event was a “cloudburst,” where there is intense rainfall exceeding 100 millimeters within an hour. Both the Indian and Pakistani meteorological departments have warned that rainfall will intensify over the weekend, potentially triggering more flash floods and urban flooding.
Social media videos show Kashmir’s streets turning into rivers of mud and water, with houses and vehicles being swept away. Rescue operations are still ongoing, with the military and police actively searching for the missing, and some survivors already receiving medical treatment. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired an emergency meeting in Islamabad on Friday, urging all departments to strengthen rescue and reconstruction efforts.