Epic floods in Kashmir claim over 400 lives

Strained relations between India and Pakistan have briefly thawed as both countries deal with the natural disaster

Over four hundred have died in the Kashmir after heavy monsoon rains led to a surging of floodwaters. The Indian-administered area reported 175 deaths whereas across the disputed border, floods claimed more than 60 lives in the Pakistani region in addition to 131 in the Punjab province. The worst flooding in six years submerged hundreds of villages and briefly thawed strained relations between the two rivals for the area.

“It is a matter of great distress that the retreating monsoon rains have played havoc in many parts of our two countries,” said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a letter to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, before he offered Indian resources at the disposal of Pakistan.

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The Kashmir region was divided soon after independence from British rule in 1947 that lead to the creation of separate states of India and Pakistan.