Dozens killed in Indian Kashmir flooding

At least 60 people were killed and hundreds were injured after flash floods hit Indian-administered Kashmir on Friday. The overnight floods, triggered by some rare rainfall, tore through Leh, the main town of the Ladakh region.

Karunakar Rayker

Tourism Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora said the floods had caused “unprecedented” devastation and that the death toll was likely to rise “significantly”.

At least 200 people were reported injured and the military has been called upon to help with relief efforts.

Television footage showed several collapsed buildings and residents desperately trying to dig survivors out of the rubble.

The mountainous region in the south-eastern part of Kashmir is popular with foreign tourists interested in Himalayan trekking and river-running.

"So far we have no reports of any tourists among the dead but some are stranded on the Leh-Manali road,” Jora said. “The army has sent rescue teams there."

Situated some 3,500 metres above sea level, Leh is surrounded by a high-altitude desert where heavy rainfall is uncommon.