At least 20 people have been killed when new monsoon rains caused flooding in northwestern Pakistan, local officials say, as the region is ravaged by an unusually intense and deadly monsoon season.

A Pakistani official says the death toll from flash floods in the country's northwest has risen to at least 274 after rescuers recovered dozens of bodies from the rubble of collapsed houses.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed federal ministers to personally oversee relief work in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where at least 323 people have died.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) -Authorities in Pakistan resumed rescue and relief work on Monday in the country's northwest where flash floods have killed over 300 people after heavy rain forced them to suspend operations for several hours,

Cloudbursts are causing chaos in mountainous parts of India and Pakistan, with tremendous amounts of rain falling in a short period of time over a concentrated area.

The US Secretary of State added that they “should be thankful to have a President who has made peace and the achievement of peace a priority of his administration."

Pakistan's participation in the men's Asia Cup hockey tournament is uncertain amid security concerns. Bangladesh has been invited as a potential replacement, with confirmation expected soon.