Floods and landslides kill at least 25 in northern India
Officials reported deaths in Kashmir, Nagaland and Assam after days of heavy monsoon rain, with more severe weather forecast.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
Floods and landslides have killed at least 25 people in northern and northeastern India, local officials said, as monsoon rain continued to batter several regions. The deaths have forced rescues, damaged property and prompted authorities to halt major Hindu pilgrimages until travel routes are deemed safe.
Officials reported several deadly incidents over the weekend in Indian-administered Kashmir and Nagaland after days of torrential rain, according to AFP and Reuters. India’s weather office warned that Jammu and Kashmir could see more extremely heavy rain in the coming days, with active monsoon conditions likely to continue across the region for as long as a week.
Deaths reported across three states and territories
In Indian-administered Kashmir, rain-related incidents killed at least 15 people in Poonch, Rajouri and Doda districts, a senior police official said. Several others were reported missing.
In Nagaland, authorities said persistent rain set off multiple landslides that killed nine people. Wennyei Konyak, the magistrate of Mon district, told AFP that rescue crews had recovered four of eight bodies and that the search was continuing. He said at least 15 people had been injured.
Flooding also killed one person on Sunday in the neighboring state of Assam, according to the state disaster management body. The agency said more than 57,000 people in seven districts had been affected.
Rescues in Rajouri after flash flood
A flash flood in Rajouri, in Jammu, caused widespread damage to public and private property, according to a statement from the office of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The office said the flooding disrupted many lives in the area.
Army personnel and state emergency responders rescued 11 people in Rajouri, including five children, the chief minister’s office said. Images from Rajouri showed vehicles piled up after floodwaters swept through the area, Reuters reported.
Authorities temporarily suspended the annual Amarnath pilgrimage and the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage in Jammu, citing the safety of devotees. Officials said the routes would remain closed until they are declared safe.
The Amarnath pilgrimage drew more than 400,000 Hindus last year, according to the report. Both pilgrimages rely on mountain routes that can become hazardous during intense rain, landslides and flash flooding.
Flooding and rain-related accidents occur each year in India during the monsoon season, which follows the region’s long summer. The same season that brings destructive floods also supplies water to areas that face severe scarcity and drought during other parts of the year.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.