Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif sparked controversy by calling devastating Punjab province floods a "blessing" and advising citizens to store floodwater in buckets and tubs at home. Speaking to local media, Asif suggested protesters should "take flood waters home" instead of blocking roads. The monsoon fury has killed 33 people, affected 2,200 villages, and forced evacuation of over 700,000 residents across Punjab province. Provincial Disaster Management Authority reports one of history's most severe floods with three rivers running dangerously high. In Sindh province, 1.6 million people across 1,657 villages face potential flood impact. Relief operations continue in worst-hit districts while livestock are relocated to safer areas. (PC: The Hindu)

Heavy rain has paralysed north India, killing at least 98 people across Punjab, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand. The Yamuna crossed the danger mark in Delhi, flooding homes and roads. Punjab reported 29 deaths in what officials called the “worst flood in 25 years.” In Jammu and Kashmir, over 50 people have died, highways remain shut, and 500 houses are damaged. Uttarakhand reported 10 deaths, with 69 still missing after cloudbursts. Thousands are displaced across the region. Schools and offices in many states have closed. The IMD warned heavy rain will continue until September 7. (PC: India Today)

More than 1,000 people are feared dead after a landslide in western Sudan, according to the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM). The disaster struck a village in the Marrah Mountains, Darfur, on 31 August after heavy rain. The SLM said only one survivor has been found and appealed to the United Nations and aid groups for urgent help. The area, already sheltering people fleeing Sudan’s civil war, lacks food and medicine. Fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces has left millions displaced, deepening what the UN calls one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. (PC: Sudan Liberation Movement/Army)

Delhi faced rising flood danger on Tuesday as the Yamuna crossed the danger mark of 205.33 metres and reached 205.68 metres by morning. Water entered homes in low-lying areas, forcing people into relief camps. Officials warned levels could rise to 206.50 metres by evening as water continued to flow from Haryana’s Hathnikund barrage. Authorities closed Loha Pul for traffic from 5 pm. Meanwhile, Gurugram received over 100 mm rain in four hours on Monday, flooding Hero Honda Chowk and the Dwarka Expressway. An orange alert was issued, schools moved online, and offices were asked to allow work-from-home. (PC: India Today)

Heavy rain in Delhi-NCR on Monday brought Gurugram to a standstill. Waterlogging caused massive traffic jams on the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway, with queues stretching for nearly 20 kilometres. The traffic police received about 200 distress calls as vehicles broke down and commuters sought help. Videos on social media showed endless rows of stranded cars. Congestion was also reported at Rajiv Chowk, Golf Course Road, and other key routes. The IMD issued an orange alert, warning of more rain. Schools were ordered shut, and offices advised work-from-home. Opposition leaders slammed the government, calling it a “failure of planning."

Schools and offices in Gurugram will remain closed on Tuesday after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall. The city received over 100 mm of rain in just four hours on Monday, causing severe waterlogging. The district administration has advised companies to allow employees to work from home and schools to shift to online classes. Parts of Delhi NCR also faced flooding, with Delhi Metro services affected and the Yamuna river flowing above the danger mark. Faridabad has also been placed under an orange alert, though Delhi faces no warning. (PC: HT)

A flood alert has been issued in Delhi after 29,313 cusecs of water were released from the Hathnikund Barrage, raising fears that the Yamuna River may exceed its danger mark of 206.50 meters. Authorities have ordered strict patrolling and vigilance in low-lying areas near embankments, with residents being warned and relocated to safer zones. Relief camps have been set up in areas like Mayur Vihar to shelter displaced families. The IMD reported that August 2025 saw one of the highest rainfall levels in decades, with monsoon activity expected to continue into September. The surge in rainfall and water release has intensified concerns over urban flooding and emergency preparedness. (PC: The Economic Times & The Tribune)

A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, killing at least 800 people and injuring over 1,300. The quake hit near Jalalabad in Nangarhar province and also caused massive destruction in Kunar, where three villages were razed. Homes built of mud and stone collapsed, leaving survivors trapped under debris. Rescue teams from Nangarhar, Kunar, and Kabul rushed to the site, while hospitals struggled to treat the injured. The United States Geological Survey reported the quake’s shallow depth of 8 km made it more deadly. No foreign aid has arrived yet, officials confirmed. Aftershocks are expected this week. (PC: HT)

A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province on Monday, killing at least 250 people and injuring over 400. The epicentre was near Jalalabad, where buildings collapsed and entire villages were damaged. Rescue teams are searching for survivors under the rubble, but officials warn the toll may rise. Health ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman said, “The number of casualties is high, and our teams are still on site.” After the main quake, a 4.7 magnitude aftershock followed. Tremors were also felt in Pakistan. This is the deadliest earthquake since 2023, highlighting Afghanistan’s vulnerability to disasters in the Hindu Kush mountains. (PC: HT)

A devastating 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck northeastern Afghanistan’s Kunar province near the Pakistan border at 11:47 PM local time on Sunday, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences. Early reports suggest hundreds are feared dead, with 30 fatalities confirmed in a single village. Rescue operations are underway in remote mountainous districts, but access remains difficult. Health ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman stated that casualty numbers are expected to rise, with hundreds injured already hospitalized. The quake’s epicenter was near Jalalabad, just 119 km from Kabul, at a depth of 14 km. Two additional tremors of 4.5 and 5.2 magnitude followed shortly after, intensifying fears in a region still recovering from the deadly 2023 quake. (PC: Sky News & Reuters)