At least 34 people were killed when powerful torrents, driven by torrential downpour, struck a Himalayan mountain village in Indian-administered Kashmir on Thursday.
The disaster follows another deadly flood earlier this month, marking the second major incident to hit northern India this August.
Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the situation as grim, attributing the tragedy to a sudden “cloudburst” over the Kishtwar district. Crowds gathered at Kishtwar hospital.
District Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma confirmed the toll, saying, “We have found 34 dead bodies and rescued 35 injured people. There are chances of more dead bodies being found.”
Residents of nearby villages described harrowing scenes. Sushil Kumar, from Atholi village, said, “I saw at least 15 dead bodies brought to the local hospital.”
Rescue operations are expected to face challenges, as roads leading to the area were already damaged by days of heavy storms. The village is more than 200 kilometres by road from Srinagar, the region’s main city.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged support, stating, “Every possible assistance will be provided to those in need.”
Earlier this month, floods swept through Dharali town in Uttarakhand state, burying it in mud. The likely death toll from that disaster exceeds 70, although authorities have yet to confirm the figures.