At least 56 people have been killed and dozens more remain missing after a sudden cloudburst unleashed torrential rain in Indian-administered Kashmir, authorities said, marking the second major disaster in the Himalayas in just over a week.

Himachal Pradesh

Torrential rains caused sudden flash floods in the Himalayan town of Chisoti, sweeping through a valley crowded with pilgrims attending an annual religious event. The floods destroyed a community kitchen and a security post, leaving scores missing and over a hundred people injured. Rescue operations have been slowed by adverse weather and the region's difficult terrain. 

This incident follows another recent disaster in the Himalayas, where flooding and mudslides in Uttarakhand led to significant loss of life. Experts highlight that such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent in the fragile mountain region. Authorities have suspended the pilgrimage and related cultural activities as the community assesses the damage.

Dozens killed after torrential rains trigger flash floods in Kashmir

A sudden bust of rain over the Himalayan town of Chisoti sending torrents of water and mud tearing through the valley. The town was crowded with pilgrims gathered for an annual journey to a remote Hindu temple. But in minutes the celebration turned into chaos. Officials say the flood swept away a community kitchen where many pilgrims had gathered and even washed away a nearby security post. Scores are missing and local hospitals are treating more than a hundred injured. But poor weather and the remoteness of the area are slowing rescue efforts. It's the second disaster to hit the Himalayas in just over a week. On August 5th flooding and mudslide struck a village in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand killing more than 70 people. Experts warn that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent in the fragile mountain region. In 2013 you know we had the cloudburst which triggered the Glacier Lake outburst flood in Uttarakhand in the Kedarnath region and then you know we lost more than 6,000 people. And recently in 2023 and 2024 we've had also floods and landslides in Himachal Pradesh in the Himalayas and also Uttarakhand which is also in the foothills of the Himalayas. Authorities have now suspended the pilgrimage and all cultural activities planned for the week as the community begins to count its losses. Hamza Mohammed, Al Jazeera.

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Jerusalem

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Ukraine Invasion

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Geneva

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Breakdown