Heavy rainfall struck Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, leading to devastating cloudbursts and flash floods that resulted in two fatalities. The incidents primarily occurred in the Kashmir Valley and severely damaged infrastructure, including roads and crops.
Authorities suspended traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and the Jammu-Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road due to mudslides near Deval in Chenani. Helicopter services to the revered Mata Vaishno Devi shrine faced delays of over six hours because of the adverse weather.
In the Kupwara district, a cloudburst triggered flash floods, claiming the life of Naseema Begum, the wife of Mohammad Ayub of Warnow. Officials discovered her body during search operations.
In another tragic incident, Murtaza Bashir, a man from Boniyar in Baramulla district, drowned in a water body amid the torrential rainfall.
Strong winds wreaked havoc across multiple areas, uprooting trees in Lolab and inflicting damage on residential properties. Army personnel actively participated in relief operations, providing assistance to affected families and assessing damage.
Flash floods also struck although officials clarified these were not caused by a cloudburst but were due to almost two hours of intense rain. Zavora, Budherhama, and Kijarsinda villages in Shopian district experienced severe inundation.
State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams led rescue efforts in Zavora, while deploying additional personnel to Budherhama for damage assessment and relief operations. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in these areas.
Flash floods struck Anantnag district when a cloudburst hit the Batkoot area of Pahalgam. Overflowing streams raised the water level in nearby Lidder Nallah, disrupting access to tourist sites and damaging roads.
Officials reported this marks the third cloudburst affecting Nallah Awoora in the last month. Anantnag Police facilitated the evacuation of stranded tourists, ensuring their safe passage across Langanbal Bridge.
Additional cloudbursts were evident in the Arin-Dardpora area of Bandipora and in the Abloas forest region in Tral, Pulwama district. Although flash floods affected Nagbal and adjacent villages, there were no reported fatalities.
In Ganderbal, low-lying areas like Haripora and Uprash flooded due to overflowing streams. Homes suffered damage as strong winds removed rooftops and disrupted electricity.
Kargil’s Hardass and Tumail villages also reported flash floods that damaged crops and infrastructure. In Kishtwar district, Guman Radd and Surnoo witnessed a cloudburst that caused flash floods in Kiyar Nallah, impacting agricultural land.
Kishtwar’s Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Sharma confirmed that a Revenue Department team evaluates losses in the affected regions.
ADuring this tumultuous weather, four boys had to be rescued from Dal Lake after their boat capsized due to sudden winds. An SDRF Quick Response Team conducted the successful evacuation.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed around 4.30 p.m. due to mudslides at Deval-Samroli in Chenani, stranding traffic towards Batote, Doda, and Kishtwar.
Although the National Highways Authority of India worked diligently to clear roads, heavy traffic persisted until late evening.
Reasi, Katra, and Rajouri districts also faced heavy rain, prompting advisories for residents in flood-threatening areas. A mudslide affected a kutcha house in Shahpur village; thankfully, occupants escaped unharmed.
Local administrations identified vulnerable spots, advising residents especially to safeguard children and elderly family members as a precaution against potential flooding.
In Poonch district, the Mendhar administration inspected the landslide-prone Bosa Jabra-Sarroti village. Continuous ground movement endangers multiple families and critical infrastructure.
Inspectors reported five houses and two government schools suffer from damage, while other structures display severe cracks. With nearly 200 graves damaged, local officials established a relief camp for those affected.
The Meteorological Centre in Srinagar cautioned that the current wet spell will persist into the week, with forecasts predicting light to moderate rain with chances of heavy showers on August 3 and 4. Authorities expect potentially hazardous rainfall patterns to trigger further flooding, mudslides, and landslides thereafter.
Residents, tourists, and pilgrims must stay vigilant, adhering strictly to local advisories, avoiding unnecessary travel through flood-prone zones.
