Historic Floods Devastate India and Pakistan as Monsoon Rains Intensify
September 4, 2025 — Catastrophic flooding continues to wreak havoc across South Asia, leaving widespread destruction and forcing mass evacuations. Heavy monsoon rains have pushed rivers beyond danger levels, submerging towns, destroying crops, and displacing millions.
In northern India, the Yamuna River has surged to its third-highest level in 63 years, flooding large parts of Delhi and surrounding states. At least 90 people have died, and hundreds of thousands more are struggling with inundated homes, damaged roads, and relief camp shortages. Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand remain among the worst-hit areas, with officials declaring large parts of Punjab a disaster zone. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann called the current floods “more severe than those of 1988.”
Across the border in Pakistan’s Punjab province, authorities describe the disaster as the worst flooding in the country’s history. More than 1.8 million people have been displaced, with at least 46 deaths confirmed. Over 3,900 villages have been swallowed by floodwaters as the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers overflow following both heavy rains and dam releases from India. Despite the crisis, Pakistan has not sought international aid, though the United Kingdom has pledged emergency funding for flood preparedness.
Elsewhere in India, the coastal state of Odisha is battling torrential rains from a Bay of Bengal low-pressure system, causing crop damage and severe urban flooding in Puri, Cuttack, and Bhubaneswar.
Meanwhile, across the globe, the U.S. Southwest is bracing for flash floods as remnants of Hurricane Lorena funnel tropical moisture into Arizona and neighboring states. Forecasters warn of intense rainfall this weekend that could lead to dangerous flooding in desert communities.
Climate experts emphasize that while monsoon rains are seasonal, the scale and intensity of recent floods reflect the growing impact of climate change, rapid urbanization, and deforestation, which leave communities more vulnerable to disasters.
Governments in India and Pakistan have launched large-scale rescue and relief efforts, but officials warn that recovery will be long and difficult, with millions at risk of disease, hunger, and homelessness in the aftermath of these historic floods.
