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Arab News
4 days ago
- Climate
- Arab News
Flash floods kill 44 in Kashmir
SRINAGAR, India: Flash floods caused by torrential rains in a remote village in India-controlled Kashmir have left at least 44 people dead and dozens missing, authorities said Thursday, as rescue teams scouring the devastated Himalayan village brought at least 200 people to a cloudburst in the region's Chositi village, which triggered floods and landslides, disaster management official Mohammed Irshad estimated that at least 50 people were still missing, with many believed to have been washed deputy minister for science and technology, Jitendra Singh, warned that the disaster 'could result in substantial' loss of Kumar Sharma, a local official, said that at least 50 seriously injured people are being treated in local hospitals. Many were rescued from a stream filled with mud and is a remote Himalayan village in Kashmir's Kishtwar district and is the last village accessible to motor vehicles on the route of an ongoing annual Hindu pilgrimage to a mountainous shrine at an altitude of 3,000 meters (9,500 feet) and about an 8-kilometer (5-mile) trek from the pilgrims were also feared to be affected by the disaster. Officials said that the pilgrimage had been suspended and more rescue teams were on the way to the area to strengthen rescue and relief operations. The pilgrimage began on July 25 and was scheduled to end on Sept. first responders to the disaster were villagers and local officials who were later joined by police and disaster management officials, as well as personnel from India's military and paramilitary forces, Sharma Majeed Bichoo, a local resident and a social activist from a neighboring village, said that he witnessed the bodies of eight people being pulled out from under the mud. Three horses, which were also completely buried alongside them under debris, were 'miraculously recovered alive,' he 75-year-old Bichoo said Chositi village had become a 'sight of complete devastation from all sides' following the disaster.'It was heartbreaking and an unbearable sight. I have not seen this kind of destruction of life and property in my life,' he devastating floods swept away the main community kitchen set up for the pilgrims as well as dozens of vehicles and motorbikes, officials said. They added that more than 200 pilgrims were in the kitchen when the tragedy struck. The flash floods also damaged and washed away many homes, clustered together in the and videos circulating on social media showed extensive damage caused in the village with multiple vehicles and homes Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that 'the situation is being monitored closely' and offered his prayers to 'all those affected by the cloudburst and flooding.''Rescue and relief operations are underway. Every possible assistance will be provided to those in need,' he said in a social media intense downpours over small areas known as cloudbursts are increasingly common in India's Himalayan regions, which are prone to flash floods and landslides. Cloudbursts have the potential to wreak havoc by causing intense flooding and landslides, impacting thousands of people in the mountainous say cloudbursts have increased in recent years partly because of climate change, while damage from the storms also has increased because of unplanned development in mountain is home to multiple hydroelectric power projects, which experts have long warned pose a threat to the region's fragile ecosystem.
CBC
4 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Flash floods in Kashmir kill at least 32, say Indian officials, with more still missing
At least 32 people are dead in flash floods caused by torrential rains in a remote, mountainous village in Indian-controlled Kashmir, a top disaster management official said Thursday. Mohammed Irshad said rescue teams scouring the devastated Himalayan village of Chositi brought at least 100 people to safety. He said initial estimations suggested at least 50 others were still missing. India's deputy minister for science and technology, Jitendra Singh, said the floods were triggered by a cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir's Chositi area and "could result in substantial casualty." Some of the rescued people were badly injured and were being treated in local hospitals, said Susheel Kumar Sharma, a local official. Chositi is a remote Himalayan village in Kashmir's Kishtwar district and is the last village accessible to motor vehicles on the route of an annual Hindu pilgrimage to a mountainous shrine. Multiple pilgrims were also feared to be affected by the disaster. Officials said pilgrimage has been suspended and more rescue teams were on the way to the area. The devastating floods swept away the main community kitchen set up for the pilgrims as well as dozens of vehicles and motorbikes, officials said. Lt.-Gov. Manoj Sinha, New Delhi's top administrator in Kashmir, offered condolences for the loss of life and said he had directed personnel from India's military and paramilitary forces, as well as police and disaster management officials, to strengthen rescue and relief operations. Sudden, intense downpours over small areas known as cloudbursts are increasingly common in India's Himalayan regions, which are prone to flash floods and landslides. Cloudbursts have the potential to wreak havoc by causing intense flooding and landslides, impacting thousands of people in the mountainous regions. Experts say cloudbursts have increased in recent years partly due to climate change, while damage from the storms also has increased because of unplanned development in mountain regions. WATCH | Fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan: Fragile India-Pakistan ceasefire holds, but Modi warns of further action 3 months ago After days of escalating conflict, a fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan seems to be holding. However, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned it's only a pause on military operations, and more strikes could follow depending on what Pakistan does next.
San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- Climate
- San Francisco Chronicle
Flash floods and landslides hit Indian-controlled Kashmir, killing 7
SRINAGAR, India (AP) — At least seven people are dead in flash floods caused by torrential rains in a remote, mountainous village in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said Thursday, as rescue teams scouring the devastated Himalayan village brought at least 60 people to safety. India's deputy minister for science and technology, Jitendra Singh, said the floods were triggered by a cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir's Chositi area and 'could result in substantial casualty.' Susheel Kumar Sharma, a local official, said the first responders, comprising of villagers and local officials, had so far recovered bodies of seven people from a stream under mud and debris while 60 people were rescued and taken to local hospitals. Sharma said many people were still missing as the devastating floods swept away dozens of vehicles and motorbikes. Chositi is a remote Himalayan village in Kashmir's Kishtwar district and is the the last village accessible to motor vehicles on the route of an annual Hindu pilgrimage to a mountainous shrine. Multiple pilgrims are also feared to be affected by the disaster. Officials said the pilgrimage has been suspended and more rescue teams were on the way to the area. Lt. Gov. Manoj Sinha, New Delhi's top administrator in Kashmir, offered condolences for the loss of life and said he had directed personnel from India's military and paramilitary forces, as well as police and disaster management officials, to strengthen rescue and relief operations. Sudden, intense downpours over small areas known as cloudbursts are increasingly common in India's Himalayan regions, which are prone to flash floods and landslides. Cloudbursts have the potential to wreak havoc by causing intense flooding and landslides, impacting thousands of people in the mountainous regions.
