Torrential monsoon rains sweeping the Himalayan region have triggered fatal landslides in northern India and sent floodwaters surging into neighbouring Pakistan, overwhelming rivers and forcing large-scale evacuations on both sides of the border. In India’s Jammu and Kashmir territory, a landslide struck the Adhkuwari stretch of the pilgrim route to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine on Tuesday, killing at least 33 devotees and injuring scores more. Authorities halted the yatra, while National and State Disaster Response Force teams searched the debris and cleared blocked paths. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the injured in Katra and pledged “the best possible treatment”. The J&K government later announced Rs 6 lakh in compensation for the families of each victim, supplementing separate relief of Rs 4 lakh ordered by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for residents of his state who died. The same weather system dumped 612 mm of rain on the Jammu region between 23–27 August—726 percent above the seasonal norm, according to the India Meteorological Department. Flooded highways severed links to the rest of India, telecom services were disrupted and several bridges on the Tawi River were damaged. With dams filling rapidly, New Delhi opened spill-ways and warned downstream districts of further rises on the Tawi, Chenab and Jhelum rivers. Across the border, Pakistan’s Punjab province declared emergencies as the Ravi, Chenab and Sutlej rivers breached danger levels after India released excess water. Officials said more than 200,000 people had been displaced, with army units rescuing families from submerged villages and the Sikh holy site at Kartarpur under water. Schools were closed indefinitely in at least seven districts, and the National Disaster Management Authority cautioned that the next 24–48 hours remain critical. President Asif Ali Zardari urged nationwide support for victims, while the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund allocated US$600,000 for immediate relief operations.