Islamabad/New Delhi:
This year’s monsoon season has turned deadly across Pakistan and India as cloudbursts sudden, extreme downpours triggered flash floods and landslides, leaving hundreds dead and thousands displaced. The disasters, concentrated in mountainous regions of Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and northern Pakistan, swept away homes, roads, and bridges in a matter of minutes.
Meteorologists explain that cloudbursts occur when more than 100 millimeters of rain falls in less than an hour over a small area. In steep, hilly terrains, this water rushes down valleys with explosive force, overwhelming drainage systems and turning into catastrophic floods.
Experts warn the increasing frequency of such events is linked to climate change. Rising global temperatures allow the atmosphere to hold more moisture, resulting in heavier rainfall. Coupled with rapid urbanization and unplanned construction that reduces natural water absorption, these conditions magnify the destructive power of cloudbursts.
“South Asia is on the frontline of the climate crisis,” said a regional climate scientist. “What we are seeing now is a deadly combination of extreme weather, fragile infrastructure, and poor urban planning.”
Rescue operations are ongoing, but authorities face major challenges reaching remote areas where roads have collapsed. Thousands have been evacuated, and governments in both countries have issued fresh warnings for more heavy rainfall in the coming weeks.
The devastation underscores the urgent need for stronger disaster preparedness, improved urban planning, and climate adaptation measures. Without decisive action, experts caution, cloudbursts and extreme monsoon events will continue to grow deadlier in the years ahead.
