Deadly flash floods sweep Pakistan and India, hundreds missing
Illustrative photo: Floods in Pakistan and India have claimed hundreds of lives (Getty Images)
Sudden floods in northern Pakistan and India, caused by heavy monsoon rains, have claimed at least 400 lives, with many still missing, according to DW.
Thousands of rescuers continue searching through muddy debris and destroyed homes.
Heaviest losses in Pakistan
According to the National Disaster Management Authority, the hardest-hit area is the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where 324 people have died. Another 20 deaths have been reported in other parts of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Most casualties resulted from flash floods or building collapses.
"Heavy rainfall, landslides in several areas, and washed-out roads are causing significant challenges in delivering aid, particularly in transporting heavy machinery and ambulances," AFP quoted Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rescue service spokesman Bilal Ahmed Faizi as saying.
Around 2,000 rescuers are working to recover bodies and find survivors.
Disaster zones have been declared in the affected districts of Buner, Bajaur, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, and Battagram.
On Friday, a Mi-17 helicopter carrying humanitarian aid to the affected areas of Bajaur crashed. Five crew members, including two pilots, were killed, according to the province’s chief minister, Ali Amin Gandapur.
Situation in India
In the Himalayan village of Choshti in Indian Kashmir, at least 60 people have died in the flood, and 80 more are considered missing. The village, crowded with pilgrims, was hit by a sudden surge of water. Rescuers saved over 300 people, but many missing remain at risk.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted that the recent natural disasters have been a severe test for both the population and rescue services.
Flood in Texas
Earlier, a powerful downpour and flash flood in the US state of Texas killed 43 people, including many children. Rescuers continued searching for victims and missing persons.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his condolences to the Texas authorities over the tragedy.
