Heavy Flooding in Northern India and Pakistan Leaves Dozens Dead, Thousands Evacuated
New Delhi / Lahore – September 3, 2025 –
Torrential rains and overflowing rivers across northern India have claimed at least five lives on Wednesday, with officials warning of more storms and flooding in the coming days. Meanwhile, Pakistan has also sounded the alarm after receiving fresh water release alerts from India, raising fears of worsening floods in Punjab.
Intense Monsoon Hits Northern India
This year’s monsoon season has been particularly severe in India, with at least 130 deaths recorded in August alone across the north. Entire villages have been washed away, and vital infrastructure has been destroyed.
The latest floods have devastated parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Punjab, where the Chenab and Tawi rivers have surged above danger levels.
Landslides and Road Closures
Officials confirmed that landslides in Rajouri (Jammu) and Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) killed at least five people on Wednesday. Several highways and mountain roads have been cut off, isolating communities in the Himalayan region.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more heavy to very heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, warning residents to stay indoors.
Delhi on High Alert
In the capital, Delhi, the swollen Yamuna River breached its danger mark, forcing authorities to evacuate nearly 10,000 people to government relief camps.
This is not the first time Delhi has faced such danger — in 2023, the Yamuna reached its highest level in 45 years, flooding residential areas and forcing mass evacuations.
Himachal and Punjab Face Severe Losses
Popular tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh have been hit hard, with continuous landslides blocking access roads. Schools and colleges have been ordered shut as a safety measure.
In Punjab, officials reported that 30 people have died and 20,000 residents have been evacuated since August 1. Floods have destroyed nearly 150,000 hectares of crops, striking a heavy blow to India’s agricultural heartland.
Floodwaters Spread to Pakistan
Heavy rainfall and water releases from Indian dams have worsened the situation downstream in Pakistan’s Punjab province.
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Pakistan’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed that the worst floods in four decades have already killed 43 people since August 26.
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Over 3.3 million people have been affected by rising floodwaters.
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Nationwide, Pakistan’s monsoon death toll since late June has risen to 881, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Pakistani authorities said India has issued four floodwater release warnings in recent weeks, forcing them to maintain emergency measures across Punjab.
