Mubashir Alam Wani
Srinagar, Aug 18: Amid multiple incidents of cloudbursts and heavy rainfall in recent weeks, authorities have sounded a high alert and stepped up disaster preparedness across Jammu and Kashmir.
Officials from the J&K Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA) said that preparedness protocols remain always on standby and are fully activated during active weather alerts.
They said that the measures include round-the-clock Emergency Operation Centers, CAP Sachet alerts, district-level disaster management plans, pre-positioning of responders, and supervision at the highest administrative level, including Chief Secretary-led Incident Response System (IRS) meetings. The pan-India helpline 112 has also been further strengthened.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials, J&K recorded several “extremely heavy rainfall events” over the past week, particularly on 12th August in Reasi district, where rainfall of 204 mm was recorded at one station and 284 mm and 234 mm at two others during 24 hours. Nearby areas also saw extreme rainfall, 166 mm in Udhampur and 102 mm in Samba.
“Such intensity in a short duration is unusual for mountainous terrain and has serious consequences,” an IMD official said.
The IMD confirmed that the tragic Kishtwar event on the afternoon of August 14, which left over 60 dead and more than 80 injured, falls in the cloudburst category,” the official said.
Similarly, in the Kathua district, three stations recorded rainfall of 91 mm, 95 mm, and 97 mm within less than two hours. Seven people died in that event.
The IMD official noted that these events qualify as “extreme” due to both intensity and topography. “Cloudbursts are defined by very high rainfall, over 100 mm in an hour, usually in hilly terrain. They lead to sudden flooding and debris flow, as seen in Kishtwar,” the official said.
The administration, according to the officials, has mobilised early warning systems and IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) activities to spread awareness among vulnerable communities. “We are scaling up preparedness across all districts. Cloudbursts cannot be prevented, but their impact can be minimised through early alerts and swift response,” a JKDMA official said.
