Cloudbursts, flash floods wreak havoc across J&K

Srinagar, Aug 3: A woman died as multiple cloudbursts and intense rainfall battered several parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, triggering flash floods, damaging roads, bridges, houses and agricultural land.
Meanwhile, the traffic on the strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was suspended, while as rescue teams evacuated dozens of stranded residents in different areas.
According to reports, a woman was killed after a cloudburst triggered flash floods in the Himli area of Lolab in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, officials said. The deceased was identified as Naseema Begum, wife of Mohd Ayub, a resident of Warnow.
The worst-hit district in Kashmir was Shopian, where cloudbursts in the upper reaches triggered flash floods in Zawoora, Badrhama and Kijarsinda villages.
Officials said floodwaters entered several residential houses in Badrhama within minutes, forcing residents to flee to safer places. Household belongings were damaged and agricultural fields were inundated.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) launched rescue operations and safely evacuated around 80 people, including schoolchildren and staff members, from the affected areas.
“Relief and rescue teams were immediately pressed into service after the flash floods. Evacuation has been completed successfully and assessment of the damage is underway,” an SDRF official said.
A district official said no fatalities were reported from Shopian, but several houses and public infrastructure suffered damage.
In neighbouring Anantnag district, another cloudburst struck Batkoot in Pahalgam, triggering flash floods and damaging a kacha house belonging to a poor family. No injuries were reported.
Heavy rains also caused the collapse of the rear concrete wall of the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam, allowing water to enter the camp and damage several accommodation tents. Officials said the situation was later brought under control.
The rain fury also disrupted connectivity in the tourist destination, with the Aishmuqam-Pahalgam road blocked near Langnai Bridge due to flooding, while another bridge at Batkoot sustained damage under the force of the rushing water.
In North Kashmir’s Bandipora district, another cloudburst was reported in the Arin-Dardpora area, damaging roads at several locations and disrupting movement, officials said.
In Ganderbal district, strong winds blew away the rooftop of a residential house in Bakura village and damaged an electricity pole. No injuries were reported.
In the Jammu region, continuous rainfall forced authorities to suspend traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway after a stretch near Dawal Bridge in Udhampur’s Samroli area became unsafe.
Officials said the road had turned slushy and slippery due to persistent rainfall, prompting the closure of traffic from both directions.
“NHAI personnel and traffic police are on the spot with machinery to restore the road. Commuters are advised not to undertake travel on NH-44 until the highway is declared safe,” an official said.
Heavy rainfall was also reported from Rajouri district, where rivers and streams were flowing close to danger levels, prompting authorities to monitor vulnerable areas.
In the Union Territory of Ladakh, flash floods caused widespread damage in the remote villages of Badgam and Hardass in Kargil district.
Officials said several houses, village infrastructure and agricultural fields were damaged in Badgam village, while Hardass, known for its apricot orchards, witnessed extensive losses to orchards and farmland, affecting the livelihood of growers.
Police, volunteers and local rescue agencies carried out relief operations in the affected villages as residents sought compensation and long-term flood protection measures.
Meanwhile, four boys were rescued safely from the middle of Dal Lake after their boat got stranded due to sudden gusty winds.
Officials said a Quick Response Team of the SDRF rushed to the spot and evacuated all four boys safely without any injuries.
The Meteorological Centre has forecast intermittent spells of rain and thunderstorms across Jammu and Kashmir over the next five days, warning of heavy rainfall at isolated places that could trigger flash floods, landslides, mudslides and shooting stones in vulnerable areas.
Officials advised people living near streams and landslide-prone areas to remain alert and avoid unnecessary travel during periods of intense rainfall.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said rainfall during the past 24 hours was mainly confined to parts of Jammu division, with Jammu recording 24.4 mm of rainfall and Katra receiving 8 mm. Kupwara received 0.8 mm, Gulmarg 0.6 mm, while Pahalgam and Batote recorded trace rainfall.
According to the Meteorological Centre, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 32.2 degrees Celsius, 2.1 degrees above normal, while the minimum settled at 19.8 degrees Celsius. Qazigund recorded 30.6 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 28.1 degrees Celsius, Kupwara 31.3 degrees Celsius and Gulmarg 21.2 degrees Celsius.
Jammu recorded a maximum of 33.4 degrees Celsius, while Muzaffarabad was the hottest place in the region at 35 degrees Celsius.
The MeT department has forecast light to moderate rain and thundershowers at many places across Jammu and Kashmir on August 3 and 4, with the possibility of heavy rain and brief spells of torrential showers in a few districts.
It said similar weather conditions are likely between August 5 and 7, while scattered rain and thundershowers are expected from August 8 to 10.
The weather office warned that intense rainfall over the next five days could trigger flash floods, landslides and shooting stones at vulnerable places, particularly in parts of Jammu division, and advised people to remain alert and avoid unnecessary travel during periods of heavy rain. (KNO)