The toll from severe monsoon flooding and landslides in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir has surged to at least 307 deaths, with many victims found in the mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The situation remains dire as authorities assess the damage and continue rescue operations. In addition to the fatalities, 74 homes have been reported destroyed, and a rescue helicopter tragically crashed during efforts, claiming the lives of its five crew members.
As conditions worsen with forecasts predicting continued heavy rainfall until late August, several regions have been designated as disaster zones. Sajid, a survivor from Buner, recounted the harrowing experience, stating, "I heard a loud noise as if the mountain was sliding... the ground was trembling due to the force of the water, and it felt like death was staring me in the face."
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's chief minister noted that the helicopter crash was attributed to bad weather while heading to assist in the Bajaur region. Amidst the chaos, mourners gathered for funeral prayers as bodies were retrieved from the debris caused by the flood’s fury.
In the Indian-administered region of Kashmir, rescuers pulled additional victims from mud and rubble after a flood swept through a Himalayan village, claiming at least 60 lives. Scientists and officials point to climate change as a significant factor in these increasingly severe weather patterns, with this year's monsoon season alone accounting for over 650 deaths across South Asia. The region has seen record levels of rainfall, particularly in Punjab, raising concerns over the safety of vulnerable mountain areas already destabilized by glacial melt and intensified rainfall.
As conditions worsen with forecasts predicting continued heavy rainfall until late August, several regions have been designated as disaster zones. Sajid, a survivor from Buner, recounted the harrowing experience, stating, "I heard a loud noise as if the mountain was sliding... the ground was trembling due to the force of the water, and it felt like death was staring me in the face."
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's chief minister noted that the helicopter crash was attributed to bad weather while heading to assist in the Bajaur region. Amidst the chaos, mourners gathered for funeral prayers as bodies were retrieved from the debris caused by the flood’s fury.
In the Indian-administered region of Kashmir, rescuers pulled additional victims from mud and rubble after a flood swept through a Himalayan village, claiming at least 60 lives. Scientists and officials point to climate change as a significant factor in these increasingly severe weather patterns, with this year's monsoon season alone accounting for over 650 deaths across South Asia. The region has seen record levels of rainfall, particularly in Punjab, raising concerns over the safety of vulnerable mountain areas already destabilized by glacial melt and intensified rainfall.
