At least 34 dead after flash floods hit Kashmir village

Thursday 14 August 2025 - 13:30

At least 34 people have died and dozens more were injured after heavy monsoon rains triggered destructive landslides and flash floods in a remote village in Indian-administered Kashmir on Thursday, according to local officials.

"This is the second major flooding disaster to hit India this August," said Pankaj Koumar Charma, District Commissioner of Kishtwar, who confirmed to AFP that 34 bodies had been recovered and 35 injured people rescued. He added, "More bodies may still be found as search operations continue."

Eyewitnesses from nearby villages reported scenes of devastation. Souchil Koumar, a resident of Atholi, told AFP: "I saw at least 15 bodies being taken to the local hospital."

Relief efforts hampered by storm damage

Rescue operations are facing severe logistical challenges. Roads connecting the village to Srinagar, the region’s main city located over 200 kilometers away, have been heavily damaged by days of continuous storms. Authorities fear more people could be trapped under the debris.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and pledged:

“All necessary assistance will be provided to those affected by this tragedy.”

Increasing disasters linked to climate change

This disaster follows a deadly flood on August 5 in Dharali, a Himalayan town in the state of Uttarakhand, where dozens were killed in a massive landslide. The official death toll is still being confirmed, but estimates suggest over 70 victims.

Floods and landslides are common during the June-to-September monsoon season, but experts warn that the climate crisis, coupled with unregulated development, is making such events more frequent and deadly.

The United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization previously warned that increasingly extreme floods and droughts are a clear warning sign of how climate change is disrupting global water cycles.