Kashmir and Pakistan have seen an alarming rise in flood deaths, with a count exceeding 200 individuals. - Over 180 fatalities reported due to flash floods in Kashmir and Pakistan
In the heart of the Himalayan region, intense pre-monsoon and monsoon rains have unleashed a series of flash floods that have left a trail of destruction in Kashmir and northern Pakistan. The sudden rises in rivers, exacerbated by snow and glacial melt in the mountainous terrain, have led to widespread casualties, infrastructure damage, and displacement of thousands of people.
The villages of Chositi in India's Kishtwar district and numerous other locations have been severely affected. A stopover on a popular pilgrimage route, Chositi was hit hard when flash floods swept away temporary kitchen tents during lunch on Thursday, putting many lives at risk. The exact death toll in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir is currently at least 65, with fears that it may rise.
The floods have resulted in over 700 fatalities and nearly 1,000 injuries due to flash floods and related landslides. Significant casualties have been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, and Kashmir. Large-scale destruction of property has occurred, with more than 1,600 buildings damaged or destroyed in multiple districts. Hundreds of people have gone missing, livestock losses have been substantial, and thousands have been evacuated or displaced.
Infrastructure such as roads has been severely damaged, further complicating rescue and relief efforts. Despite these challenges, provincial governments and emergency services, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have launched rescue missions to evacuate stranded individuals and provide relief. Search and rescue teams continue to operate despite difficult terrain and weather conditions. Large-scale evacuations have taken place in affected areas of Pakistan and Kashmir, aiming to reduce further loss of life.
Relief organizations and local administrations are working tirelessly to provide shelter, medical aid, and other basic needs to those displaced. The situation is particularly dire in the region around the village of Chositi in the Kishtwar district, where bad weather and remoteness are hampering rescue efforts. Reports suggest that the flood swept away temporary kitchen tents in the village while the pilgrims were having lunch.
The flash floods are causing a significant humanitarian crisis. Rescue teams in northern Pakistan and the Pakistani-administered part of Kashmir are searching for several missing people. So far, 128 people have lost their lives in northern Pakistan and the Pakistani-administered part of Kashmir. The German Press Agency has reported on the situation, highlighting the urgent need for international aid and support.
The monsoon season lasts from June to September in the Himalayan region, and the floods serve as a stark reminder of the region's vulnerability to such disasters. As rescue and relief efforts continue, the hope is that the losses can be minimized, and those affected can rebuild their lives.
- EC countries should consider increasing their development aid to the affected regions in the Himalayan region, specifically focusing on employment policy in areas prone to such disasters to reduce the number of people displaced and improve their resilience to future crises.
- General-news outlets are reporting on the aftermath of the flash floods in Kashmir and northern Pakistan, highlighting the increased risk of accidents during the relief and rescue operations due to the generally poor weather conditions.
