At least 25 dead as floods and landslides hit northern India

At least 25 people were killed in floods and landslides caused by torrential rain across northern and northeastern India over the weekend, officials said on Monday, with more heavy rainfall forecast over the next few days.

In Indian-administered Kashmir, at least 15 people died in separate rain-related incidents in the districts of Poonch, Rajouri and Doda, according to a senior police official. Several other people were reported missing.

In the northeastern state of Nagaland, persistent rainfall triggered multiple landslides that killed nine people. Rescue teams have recovered four bodies, a senior district official told Reuters.

In neighbouring Assam, one person died in flooding on Sunday, the state disaster management body said. More than 57,000 people across seven districts have been affected by torrential rain.

“Active monsoon conditions are likely to persist over northwest, east and northeast India during the next 6–7 days,” India’s weather office said in a post on social media website X.

In neighbouring Nepal, 27 people have been killed, one person remains missing and 69 others have been injured in floods, landslides, heavy rain and lightning strikes since the monsoon began in mid-June, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.

Several highways, including the route linking the national capital Kathmandu with the southern plains, have been blocked by debris following landslides, police said on Monday.

Nepal’s weather department forecast light to moderate rainfall across much of the country on Monday, with heavy rain expected at isolated locations in Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces.