At least 25 killed as floods and landslides hit northern India

Heavy monsoon precipitation has caused widespread devastation across northern and northeastern India, resulting in at least 25 deaths and displacing thousands of residents. The incidents, reported over the weekend, were concentrated in Indian-administered Kashmir and the northeastern state of Nagaland, where days of torrential rain destabilized terrain and overwhelmed drainage systems.

In Kashmir's Poonch, Rajouri, and Doda districts, rain-related incidents claimed at least 15 lives, with several individuals reported missing. A flash flood in Rajouri caused extensive damage to infrastructure and private property. In Nagaland, multiple landslides triggered by persistent rainfall killed nine people, with rescue teams recovering four of eight bodies in Mon district and reporting at least 15 injured. Army personnel and state emergency responders in Jammu rescued 11 people, including five children, from flood-affected areas.

Neighbouring Assam experienced one fatality from flooding, with more than 57,000 people across seven districts affected by water-related incidents. India's meteorological office has issued warnings of potentially extreme rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir over the coming week, with active monsoon conditions expected to persist across the region.

In response to safety concerns, authorities temporarily suspended the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, which typically attracts over 400,000 Hindu devotees, and the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage in Jammu. Flooding and related disasters occur annually during India's monsoon season, compounding challenges in regions simultaneously facing water scarcity and drought conditions.