Cloudburst destroys homes in Muzaffarabad, woman killed

A sudden cloudburst struck the Balgran area on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad, triggering a landslide that razed multiple homes and inflicted severe damage on a local mosque.

According to eyewitnesses, one woman was killed, and several residents remain unaccounted for as search and rescue efforts continue.

Meanwhile, persistent heavy rains have swept across Neelum Valley, affecting key towns including Athmuqam, Lawat, Dowarian, Doodniyal, and Sharda.

The downpours have provided much-needed respite from recent heatwaves, while further north, intense showers in Arang Kel, Shounter Valley, and Gurez Valley have similarly cooled the highland terrain.

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Rising floodwaters have forced authorities to close the Neelum Highway between Barian and Mirpura to all traffic.

Torrential flows in the Leswa and Balgran streams have inundated dozens of homes, compounding the humanitarian and logistical challenges in the affected districts.