Devastating Spate of Flash Floods in Kashmir and Pakistan Claim Over 200 Lives - Catastrophic aftermath of flash floods in Kashmir and Pakistan leaves over 200 casualties
The picturesque village of Chositi, a popular stopover on a pilgrimage route to a Hindu shrine, has been hit hard by the recent floods that swept away temporary kitchen tents on Thursday, as pilgrims were having lunch.
The heavy rainfall and flash floods that occurred overnight in northern Pakistan and the Pakistani-administered part of Kashmir have been primarily caused by intense pre-monsoon rains and localized cloudbursts—sudden, heavy downpours due to atmospheric conditions pushing warm moist air rapidly upward along mountainous slopes.
The bad weather and the remoteness of the disaster area are making rescue operations difficult. Spokesman Bilal Faizi described the situation as "terrible," suggesting that possibly several dozen people, if not hundreds, need to be rescued.
In the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir, the death toll has risen to at least 65, while in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and parts of Pakistan including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, nearly 230 people have lost their lives due to the floods. Around 170 people have been rescued in India, many of them severely injured.
The monsoon season, which runs from June to September, increases the frequency of flash floods in the Himalayan region. Military units are assisting in the rescue efforts in both India and Pakistan.
The consequences of these floods include fatalities and injuries, infrastructure damage, displacement and disruption, and environmental impact. Extensive livestock losses have occurred, along with changes to the landscape via landslides and riverbank flooding, disrupting local ecosystems and livelihoods.
Reports suggest that the floods have caused significant damage to buildings and communities, particularly in mountainous regions. Many residents have been stranded and displaced, prompting urgent rescue responses by provincial governments.
The German Press Agency reported on the ongoing rescue operations in the region. The floods have resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with thousands of people in need of immediate assistance.
As the rescue operations continue, the affected area around the village of Chositi in the Kishtwar district remains a concern, with rescuers fearing that the death toll could rise. The key causes of these floods are intensified cloudbursts driven by climate change effects over mountainous terrain.
- EC countries may want to consider implementing more stringent employment policies regarding disaster response and relief, given the increased frequency of flash floods in the Himalayan region, as demonstrated by the recent tragedy in Chositi, Pakistan.
- In addition to the general-news of floods and casualties in northern Pakistan and Kashmir, there is a growing concern in the area of crime and justice, as the displacement and disruption caused by these floods may lead to an increase in crime, making employment policy reforms addressing these potential issues crucial.
