Flash floods triggered by intense cloudbursts have killed more than 280 people in India and Pakistan within the past day, with dozens still missing and thousands stranded, officials said Friday. The death toll is expected to rise as rescuers race to reach cut-off communities.
In Pakistan’s northwestern Bajaur district, a military helicopter delivering relief supplies crashed in poor weather, killing all five on board, including two pilots. Officials say the aircraft was en route to flood-hit villages when it went down.
In India-controlled Kashmir, the remote village of Chositi in Kishtwar district suffered catastrophic damage after a sudden cloudburst triggered flash floods and landslides on Thursday. At least 60 people were killed and 80 remain missing.
Hundreds of residents and Hindu pilgrims visiting a nearby 3,000-metre shrine were caught in the floodwaters.
The disaster destroyed the main community kitchen serving over 200 pilgrims, swept away vehicles, and flattened clusters of homes.
Rescue teams used makeshift bridges and heavy machinery to clear boulders, uprooted trees, and debris. Locals joined emergency crews in retrieving bodies, with at least 50 seriously injured people treated in hospital.
In Pakistan, the Buner district recorded at least 157 deaths on Friday alone. Provincial emergency service spokesperson Mohammad Suhail said many victims were trapped in collapsed homes and submerged villages.
Authorities have declared a state of emergency and warned the death toll could rise as dozens remain unaccounted for.
Since June 26, rain-related incidents have killed at least 556 people across Pakistan. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, rescue workers saved 1,300 stranded tourists in Siran Valley, while nearly 2,000 have been evacuated from other flood-affected mountain resorts.
Experts warn that climate change is intensifying cloudbursts and increasing the destruction they cause, particularly in mountainous regions where unplanned development worsens the impact. A new World Weather Attribution study found Pakistan’s rainfall between June 24 and July 23 was 10–15% heavier due to global warming.
Authorities in both countries have issued fresh flood and landslide alerts, urging travellers to avoid high-risk areas. With more heavy rains forecast, rescue operations are continuing under dangerous conditions.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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