A catastrophic glacial collapse has unleashed violent flash floods across downstream communities, leaving at least 270 people confirmed dead and more than 800 missing.

The sudden deluge pulverized infrastructure, swept away bridges, and inundated entire villages as millions of tons of water and mountain debris tore through the valley.

Emergency crews and military personnel are mounting urgent search-and-rescue operations across treacherous mud-choked terrain, racing against the clock to pull survivors from the wreckage.