By Saeed Shah, Rajendra Jadhav and Shilpa JamkhandikarISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Massive, sudden downpours of rain known as cloudbursts have struck Pakistan and India during this monsoon season, killing hundreds of people in the flash floods and landslides they have triggered.

In the middle of the night, by the glow of their mobile phones, rescuers and villagers dug through the concrete remains of

Pakistan has restored 70% of electricity and reopened damaged roads in the country’s north and northwest after flash floods killed more than 300 people. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar

Across Pakistan, monsoon rains that began in late June have been heavier than usual, killing at least 645 people. Four hundred of those deaths were in the northwest alone, where narrow valleys and river-carved gorges funnel rainwater into sudden torrents.

According to the National Disaster Agency, the intensity of this year's monsoon is about 50% to 60% higher than last year.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Rescuers are looking for more than 150 people who were still missing on Monday in northwestern Pakistan, where scores died after the area was struck by a cloudburst. A senior politician blamed locals for the high death toll, saying people should have built their homes elsewhere.

ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned against more rains and cloudburst incidents in northern parts of Pakistan as death toll during the current monsoon season reached 657 while 929 injured in various incidents across country.