Flash floods caused by torrential rains in a remote village in India-controlled Kashmir have left at least 44 people dead and dozens missing, authorities said Thursday, as rescue teams scouring the devastated Himalayan village brought at least 200 people to safety.

Hundreds more were missing, many of them Hindu pilgrims, after a cloudburst triggered flooding in mountainous terrain.

The incident took place in Chositi village - a congested pilgrim route when a large number of people have gathered.