Drowning numbers exceed 400 in Pakistan flash floods

Washington DC News.Net
Friday 30th July, 2010

Over 400 people have died in flash floods triggered by torrential rains in Pakistan and Kashmir.

The flood waters hit northwest Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir, and parts of Afghanistan, making thousands of people homeless.

Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was the worst affected, with officials saying floods killed at least 141 people in three days. At least sixty of the dead drowned in Afghanistan.

The Karakoram Highway, which links Pakistan to China, was closed as rains washed away a bridge in Shangla district, also cutting off Gilgit-Baltistan from other parts of the country.

Swat has been cut off, with heavy rains sweeping away bridges and communications lines.

Rescue workers and helicopter flights are being hampered by the bad weather.

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