A powerful 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on Sunday night, killing dozens and leaving hundreds feared dead. The quake hit Kunar and Nangarhar provinces at a shallow depth of 8km, shaking homes from Kabul to Pakistan’s capital Islamabad. Taliban officials said many villages were destroyed, with houses buried under rubble. Landslides blocked roads, forcing rescuers to use helicopters. Hospitals in Nangarhar and nearby regions are receiving injured survivors, while volunteers are donating blood. Aftershocks continue, forcing families to sleep outside. Authorities warned the death toll could rise sharply, and called for urgent international help to reach remote mountain areas. (PC: BBC)

The Centre has set up inter-ministerial teams to assess flood and landslide damage in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttarakhand. Officials said the teams will visit affected districts early next week. Each team will be led by a senior Home Ministry officer and include members from key departments such as Agriculture, Power, Jal Shakti, Roads, and Rural Development. The teams will inspect damage, relief work, and needs of the states. The government has already deployed NDRF teams, Army, and Air Force helicopters for rescue and restoration work in the disaster-hit areas. (PC: The Tribune)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of heavy rain in September, with rainfall likely to be more than 109% of normal. IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the rains could trigger flash floods and landslides in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and parts of north India. Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Haryana may also face flooding. Schools in some states will remain closed due to the weather. Heavy rain is also expected in Chhattisgarh’s Mahanadi basin. IMD said September rains are showing an increasing trend, with more western disturbances interacting with the monsoon during this period. (PC: PTI)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast above-normal rainfall for September. IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra warned that Uttarakhand faces risks of landslides and flash floods due to heavy rain. The monthly average rainfall is expected to be more than 109% of the long-term normal. Some regions in the northeast, east, northwest, and southern India may see below-normal rain. Heavy showers are also expected in Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan. August brought 265 mm rainfall in northwest India, the highest since 2001. Officials urged states to prepare as swollen rivers could impact cities and towns downstream. (PC: HT)

Flash floods in Himachal Pradesh's Ravi river have isolated Bada Bhangal village in Chamba district, stranding nearly 300 residents without access routes. The swollen river has created dangerous conditions preventing rescue operations from reaching the affected community. Located in a remote mountainous area, Bada Bhangal faces severe connectivity challenges during normal conditions, making flood-induced isolation particularly critical. Rescue teams are struggling against the river's fury to establish contact and provide assistance to trapped villagers. The situation highlights the vulnerability of remote Himalayan communities during monsoon season, where single access routes can be completely severed by sudden water surges. Emergency response efforts continue as authorities work to restore communication and evacuation possibilities for the stranded population.

A significant landslide struck the Chandigarh–Manali highway near Manali, Himachal Pradesh, on August 30, 2025, exacerbating ongoing disruptions caused by heavy rainfall and flash floods in the region. The landslide led to the collapse of a substantial section of the highway, severely impacting connectivity to the tourist town of Manali. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has initiated urgent restoration work on the Kiratpur–Pandoh–Kullu–Manali section of National Highway 21, focusing on the ten locations that were completely washed away and five others that suffered partial damage due to torrential rains and floods. The India Meteorological Department has issued warnings for more rain and possible cloudbursts in the next 48 hours, raising concerns about further landslides, flash floods, and road blockages in hilly districts, including Kullu, Mandi, and Kinnaur.

Torrential rains led to multiple disasters across Jammu & Kashmir. In Reasi’s Mahore area, a landslide flattened a house and killed seven family members, including children. A simultaneous cloudburst in Ramban’s Rajgarh triggered flash floods that claimed at least four lives and left others missing; structures were destroyed and homes washed away. Rescue teams are actively conducting operations amid challenging, remote terrain. The recent extreme weather underscores the region’s vulnerability, with officials urging heightened caution and preparedness as monsoon-related disruptions persist. (PC: India Today)

Jammu and Kashmir faces devastating rainfall casualties with 11 dead and several missing from fresh landslides and cloudbursts. In Reasi district, seven family members including five children (ages 4-12) perished when their house collapsed during Friday's landslide. Ramban witnessed four deaths and four missing after cloudburst-triggered flash floods swept away homes. The week-long rainfall has paralyzed the region as Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remains closed for five consecutive days, stranding 2,000+ vehicles. Nine inter-district roads are blocked, isolating dozens of villages across Jammu, Samba, Kathua, and Udhampur. Earlier this week, 31 died near Vaishno Devi shrine, suspending the yatra. Weather office issued orange alerts for multiple districts, warning of continued heavy rainfall through weekend.

Heavy monsoon rains have triggered flood alerts in Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula as water levels in the Ghaggar river rose sharply. In Mohali’s Dera Bassi, discharge crossed 70,000 cusecs, prompting deployment of police, revenue, and drainage teams, with nine nearby villages put on high alert. Authorities are monitoring embankments, including Dehar–Alamgir–Tiwana, which breached in 2023. In Chandigarh, two floodgates of Sukhna Lake were opened early morning after water crossed the danger level of 1,163 feet—the sixth such instance this monsoon. A control room and 24/7 CCTV monitoring have been activated to coordinate emergency response. (PC: The Tribune)

Punjab Opposition leader Partap Singh Bajwa used the ATOR N1200 amphibious all-terrain vehicle to reach flood-affected areas in Sultanpur Lodhi, Kapurthala district. Manufactured by JSW Gecko Motors, this specialist mobility vehicle is typically used by the Indian Army. Four vehicles have been deployed to flooded regions in Amritsar and Sultanpur Lodhi for rescue operations, operating under district collector's office coordination with SDRF, NDRF, and Indian Army. The vehicles rescue stranded residents and deliver essential supplies including food and medicine. JSW Gecko Motors provided these vehicles as humanitarian aid to support civil administration relief efforts. The company engages with disaster response agencies across states to promote inclusion of such amphibious vehicles in their emergency response inventories.