Floods in Kashmir Kill 46, Leave Over 200 Missing

Severe flooding triggered by heavy rainfall has devastated India’s Kashmir region, killing at least 46 people and leaving more than 200 others unaccounted for.

The floods struck the Chasoti area of Kishtwar District on the morning of August 14, 2025. The area is well known for hosting the “Machail Yatra,” an annual pilgrimage dedicated to the goddess Durga.

According to a local official who spoke to Reuters, the disaster occurred while many pilgrims had gathered to share a meal.
“Many people who had come for the pilgrimage were eating together when the floods swept them away,” the official said.

Police chief Ramesh Kumar confirmed that large-scale rescue operations were launched immediately. “Both ground troops and air units have been deployed. Search and relief efforts are ongoing,” he said.

The Indian army has joined local authorities in the search for survivors, though difficult terrain and continued rainfall have slowed operations. Families of the missing remain gathered in the area, awaiting news of their loved ones.

This tragedy comes just weeks after floods hit Uttarakhand State in northern India earlier this month, killing four people and displacing several others. Environmental experts warn that the increasing frequency of such disasters reflects the region’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather events driven by climate change.