Srinagar, July 22 -- The flash floods that recently devastated Poonch and Rajouri were more than just another natural disaster. They were a painful reminder that the Himalayan region is entering an era of increasingly unpredictable and destructive weather. Within a few hours, torrential rain transformed peaceful streams into raging torrents, sweeping away homes, vehicles, livestock and, most tragically, human lives. Families who had begun the day as usual suddenly found themselves fighting for survival.

There was massive damage in Surankote of the Poonch region due to flooding of streams in villages that had taken people by surprise. In Rajouri, there was submergence of colonies, road damage, and hard work on the part of rescue teams to ...