Goa, July 24 -- India on Friday categorically rejected Pakistan's allegations that it deliberately caused flooding across the border, calling the claims "baseless and contrary to facts." The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the recent increase in water levels in the Chenab river was solely due to intense monsoon rainfall in Jammu and adjoining catchment areas.

Addressing a media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed reports in the Pakistani media alleging that India had intentionally released excess water into Pakistan. He said the higher river flows recorded between July 20 and 23 were a natural consequence of heavy rainfall and not the result of any upstream intervention by India.

Jaiswal noted that Pakistan's ow...