Torrential monsoon rains have triggered deadly flooding across India and Pakistan, leaving hundreds dead and forcing mass evacuations.
In India’s Jammu region, authorities recorded 612 millimeters of rainfall since August 23 — more than seven times the seasonal average and the heaviest since 1950. Earlier this month, sudden flash floods in Chiosti, Jammu and Kashmir, claimed 65 lives.
In Jharkhand, officials opened 11 radial gates of the Chandil Dam to manage rising water levels. Such seasonal releases are routine, but the flow into downstream rivers has intensified flooding risks for neighboring Pakistan.
Pakistan’s government issued flood alerts after sharp rises in the Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej rivers. In Punjab province, the army was called in to support rescue operations.
More than 150,000 people have been displaced, with 20,000 evacuated overnight from low-lying areas around Lahore.
The current season has already proven devastating for Pakistan, where 804 people have died since June, nearly half of them in August.
With the monsoon lasting through September, officials warn that more casualties and damage could follow if heavy rains continue.