Floods and landslides in Pakistan

Monsoon rains brought devastating floods and landslides to Pakistan in September 2014. It's estimated that almost 300 people have died since 02 September and over 2 million have been affected.

The Punjab and Kashmir Provinces, on the border with India, have suffered the worst of the flooding, and the majority of the deaths in Pakistan took place in Punjab. After the heavy rain, rivers - including the Chenab - in Pakistan and India rose and flooded, sweeping downstream. The surge of water inundated villages and agricultural areas, as well as parts of nearby cities, destroying thousands of homes. Residents had little warning of the rapidly developing flood, which accounted for much of the initial death toll when people were caught in their homes in the night.

It has been reported that as many as 700,000 people were displaced by the floods, and sought refuge or escape wherever they could find a areas of higher land or vehicles and boats.

Rescue workers began efforts to aid the victims and those left stranded by the floods, but landslides have also cut off roads and destroyed bridges, leaving some areas isolated and difficult to reach.

On 10 September, the Pakistan government authorised the destruction of a dyke on the Chenab River in Punjab Province, to prevent the rising water levels from building up further and surging down to urban areas further south. But as a side-effect, the river flooded agricultural areas and 200 villages in the region.