India sends relief to flood-hit Afghanistan as death toll reaches 20, nearly 100 missing

At least 20 people have been killed, more than 80 injured and around 100 others remain missing after devastating flash floods and a landslide struck Afghanistan's Nuristan province.

The worst-hit area is Parun, the capital of Nuristan province, where heavy rainfall triggered floods that swept through residential areas, causing widespread destruction. Officials warned that the death toll could rise as search and rescue operations continue and many people are still unaccounted for.

Amid the unfolding humanitarian crisis, India has extended relief assistance to Afghanistan. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had delivered relief materials, including food items and family tents, to Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to support communities affected by the floods.

Videos circulating on social media showed powerful floodwaters and a massive landslide tearing through Parun, leaving behind damaged homes, blocked roads and extensive destruction.

More from World

Rescue teams search for nearly 100 missing

According to Afghanistan's Khaama Press, the Taliban-run National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said the floods affected Parun and several nearby areas, resulting in significant casualties and damage.

According to the report, Hafiz Mohammad Yousuf Hamad, the authority's head of information and publications and spokesperson, said specialised rescue teams had been deployed to assess the situation, search for missing people and determine the full extent of the damage.

Officials said more than 100 people are still missing, raising fears that the death toll could increase in the coming days as rescue workers continue searching for survivors and those believed to have been swept away by the floodwaters.

The authorities added that the casualty figures remain provisional and are expected to change as more information becomes available from the affected areas.

Homes, farmland and shops destroyed

The floods caused extensive damage to homes, agricultural land and commercial establishments across Nuristan province.

Officials said several residential buildings were either destroyed or severely damaged, while farmland and shops also suffered heavy losses, affecting the livelihoods of many families.

Rescue efforts have been complicated by Nuristan's rugged mountainous terrain and limited road connectivity. Continuous rainfall and difficult access to remote villages have slowed emergency operations and delayed the delivery of relief supplies.

Afghanistan vulnerable to extreme weather

Afghanistan remains highly vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods, landslides, droughts and earthquakes, with extreme weather frequently causing loss of life and widespread destruction.

Earlier this year, six people were killed and 11 others injured after strong winds, thunderstorms and flooding hit the provinces of Kandahar, Herat, Ghor and Takhar.

According to the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, that spell of severe weather destroyed roads, wells, agricultural land, trees and hundreds of solar panels. Around 20 houses were completely destroyed, while another 10 suffered partial damage.

The latest floods in Nuristan are among the deadliest weather-related disasters to hit Afghanistan this year, with authorities continuing rescue operations amid fears that the number of casualties could rise further.