Owais Gul
Srinagar, Aug 2: At least 18 incidents of cloudburst have taken place in the last five years during the month of June, July and August across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
The officials said that three months—June, July and August are prone to cloudbursts in J&K. According to an official document compiled by the Meteorological department (MeT), 18 people have also died and eight injured following the cloudburst triggered flash floods during the months of June, July and August from 2017 till 2021.
The data reads that about 100 goats and sheep also perished during the incidents.
It said that on 18th July 2017, dozens of houses were damaged & crops, roads, trees washed away by flash water after cloudburst in Nagbal area of Tral in Pulwama district.
On 20th July 2017, six persons including four of a family died and 11 others were injured after flash floods triggered by a cloudburst wreaked havoc in Thathri town of Doda district. Also six houses, two shops and a school were damaged.
On 2nd August 2017, a massive cloud burst caused flash floods at Khonmoh area damaging more than hundred units at the Industrial area.
The data said that on 3rd July 2018, a house was damaged & several hectares of paddy fields were inundated in Naristan & Gutroo villages of Tral Tehsil in Pulwama district due to flash floods caused by cloud burst. The flood waters have also washed away a road in nearby Aripal village of the district.
On 24th July 2018, a cloudburst hit Nagnad Yangwani village of Aripal in Tral area of Pulwama district triggering flash floods damaging few houses, paddy fields & orchards. Another incident of the cloudburst caused flash floods in Sedow, Hirpora & Dachoo villages of Shopian district damaging many residential houses, devastating a few apple orchards while several domestic animals perished.
On particular date, a cloud burst and heavy rains triggered flash floods in several streams of Kangan area in Ganderbal district damaging crops, irrigation canals, paddy fields, water pipes & some residential houses.
On 9th August 2018, a cloud burst struck several villages in Leh district damaging several houses & other property in Saboo, Shey, Stakmo, Chiling & Rumbak villages.
According to the data, on 14th August 2018, a massive cloud burst & ensuing flash floods wreaked havoc in Tangdhar area of Kupwara district including the town, Nacheya, Bagbala, haji Nard & Gumol causing damage to the market, dozens of houses & shops, roads, power & telephone infrastructure. Two persons also got killed in these flash floods.
On 12th June 2019, four persons were injured after a cloud burst hit Naidkhai – Poshwari village in Bandipora district.
On 27th July 2019, about 100 sheep and goats died when a cloudburst hit Bradiangan area of Tral in Pulwama district.
On 3rd August 2019, a cloudburst damaged a residential house, a school & a road in Hajin area of Tral subdivision of Pulwama district. Water supply & electricity transmission lines were also partially damaged.
On 9th August 2020, amid rains & Lightning, a cloudburst occurred in forest area Brenpathri Tral in Pulwama district causing flash floods in low lying area. One person died & four others were injured in the incident.
The data added that on 3rd June 2021, a major cloudburst hit a site in proximity to the house of one Manzoor Ahmad Bhat son of Mohammad Sadiq Bhat in village Sharkoot of Tarathpora in Handwara of Kupwara district this evening. The cloudburst caused damage to the house of Bhat besides to other houses in the vicinity.
On 12th July 2021, a cloud burst occurred in the upper reaches of Tehsil Lar of Ganderbal district, due to which a large amount of water gushed downwards flooding the nallahs and rivulets causing flash floods. The flash floods resulted in damaging the agriculture fields, trees, roads, drains and irrigation facilities.
On 28th July 2021, at least, nine persons died, nineteen are still missing, seventeen people were injured, twenty residential houses & cattle sheds besides other infrastructure were damaged in an area spread over two hundred canals of land when a cloud burst hit remote Hunzar village of Dachhan area of Kishtwar district. Another cloudburst occurred near the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in Anantnag district leading to shooting stones which caused damage to some tents there.
On the particular date, a cloudburst triggered flash floods in Aloosa village of Bandipora district resulting in partial damage to a house, a mosque & a footbridge was washed away.
