Deadly floods hit Kashmir

Torrential monsoon rain has caused misery in northern parts of India and Pakistan.

More than 120 buildings have been damaged or destroyed across Jammu in the last 48 hours [EPA]

Torrential monsoon rainfall has hit the Kashmir region of the Indian subcontinent.

The heavy rain began early on Tuesday, causing flash flooding and a series of landslides.

In the last 24 hours 156mm of rain fell in Lahore, 133mm in Faisalabad and 90mm in Amritsar.

In India’s Jammu region, a border security officer was among six people killed, as 23 villages in the region were flooded.

In Reasi district, three children were among five people killed in Momankot as a landslide hit them.

More than 120 buildings have been damaged or destroyed across Jammu in the last 48 hours.

Flood alert warnings have been issued by the authorities across the region.  People living in areas threatened by flooding have been instructed to leave their homes. The Surankote valley is thought to be at greatest risk of flooding as the Suran River is running at very high levels and poses a significant risk to nearby villages.

Although details of the flooding have emerged solely from Indian-controlled parts of the region, it is likely that Pakistan-controlled area will also have suffered extensive flooding.

In mid August the same region was hit by floods which left at least eight people dead and destroyed more than 1,500 homes.

It is likely that much of northwestern India and Pakistan will see further heavy rain in the coming days, so the flooding problem is likely to get worse.

Source: Al Jazeera