SRINAGAR/JAMMU, Aug 3: Several incidents of cloudbursts, flash floods and strong winds besides heavy rains lashed Jammu and Kashmir today, leaving two persons dead in separate incidents in Valley, washing away roads in Pahalgam and damaging infrastructure and standing crops across several districts.
While movement of traffic was suspended on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and Doda-Kishtwar for about three hours due to fresh mudslides near Chenani in Udhampur after heavy rains on Monday evening, the chopper service to Mata Vaishnodevi remained affected for more than six hours from Katra base camp due to bad weather and rain.
Officials said that one person was killed in the Himli area of Lolab in Kupwara district, where a cloudburst triggered flash flood. The police identified the deceased as Naseema Begum, wife of Mohammad Ayub, resident of Warnow. Her body was recovered after a search operation.
“In another incident, Murtaza Bashir, son of Bashir Ahmad Lone, a resident of Boniyar in Baramulla district, drowned in a water body in the Singhpora area of Baramulla amid the inclement weather,” officials said.
A couple of houses in the Lolab area were damaged after trees uprooted by strong winds fell on the residential structures.
Army joined relief efforts in the affected area, assisting residents, assessing the damage and providing support to affected families.
No major or widespread damage has been reported from the area beyond these isolated incidents, and authorities are assessing the losses.
Shopian district also witnessed flash floods after intense rainfall caused local streams to overflow in Zavora, Budherhama and Kijarsinda villages.
Officials said the flooding followed a couple of hours of heavy rain and was not triggered by a cloudburst.
Overflowing streams inundated several houses in Budherhama within minutes, forcing families to move to safer places.
Teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) deployed in Zavora carried out rescue operations, while additional teams were rushed to Budherhama for assessment and relief.
Authorities said no casualties or major property damage have been reported from Shopian so far, though a detailed assessment is underway.
In south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, a cloudburst struck the Batkoot area of Pahalgam, triggering flash floods and panic among residents and visitors.
According to reports, Wardbal Nallah and several nearby streams overflowed after an intense spell of rain, causing a sharp rise in the water level of the Lidder Nallah.
Weather observers said the sudden surge in the Lidder, despite near-normal flows in the Sheshnag Nallah and Aru Valley, pointed to a highly localised cloudburst over the forested catchment around Batkoot.
The heavy rainfall also damaged road infrastructure. The road at Langnai Bridge was washed away by floodwaters, snapping connectivity. Another road at Awoora Nallah also suffered extensive damage, leaving both roads leading to Pahalgam blocked to vehicular traffic.
Officials said the latest incident marked the third cloudburst to hit Nallah Awoora within a month, causing fresh damage and disrupting normal life.
The district administration and police remained on the ground, monitoring the situation and assisting affected residents
Following the cloudburst, Anantnag Police evacuated tourists stranded on either side of Langanbal Bridge.
Police personnel cleared the bridge in phases, allowing people to cross one by one until all the stranded tourists were shifted to safer locations.
Another cloudburst was reported from the Arin-Dardpora area of Bandipora district, where roads were damaged at several locations. Authorities said the extent of the damage was being assessed.
A cloudburst also struck the Abloas forest area of Tral in Pulwama district, triggering a flash flood in the Watal Ara stream. Floodwater entered Nagbal and several adjoining villages, creating panic among residents. However, no casualties were reported. Locals urged the authorities to construct protective embankments along the stream to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In Ganderbal district, flash floods were reported from the Haripora area of Kangan after overflowing streams inundated low-lying areas. Flash floods originating from the Uprash forests also caused the Uprash Nallah to overflow, while another flash flood in the Sarbal area brought slush and mud onto the road.
Strong winds in the Bakura area blew off the roof of a residential house and damaged an electricity pole. No injuries were reported.
Flash floods at Hardass and Tumail villages of Kargil also caused damage to the crops and infrastructure and including road today, however, no loss of human life was reported.
Reports from Kishtwar said that another cloudburst hit Guman Radd and Surnoo villages in Dachhan block of remote Marwah Sub Division in district Kishtwar today. It was raining heavily in the area and the cloudburst trigged flash flood in Kiyar Nallah. The flood caused land erosion and also damaged standing crops of the farmers.
Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Pankaj Sharma said that flash flood in Kiyar Nallah after heavy rain caused some damage to the lands and crops of the villagers in Dachhan. He said a team of Revenue officials was deputed to the area and the details were yet awaited.
Meanwhile, four boys were rescued from Dal Lake after their boat was stranded in the middle of the lake due to sudden gusty winds.
An SDRF Quick Response Team from Hazratbal launched a rescue operation and evacuated all four safely without injuries.
Reports said the traffic movement on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was suspended at around 4.30 pm after mud slides hit the road at Deval near Samroli in Chenani. The movement of traffic was stalled from both the sides. With this the traffic movement of Jammu- Batote-Doda-Kishtwar highway was also affected.
The NHAI’s machinery and men launched the operation and land stones and gravel along this sinking stretch and restored single traffic at around 7.30 p. A heavy traffic jam was reported in Nashri, Chenani, and Ramban area till late this evening.
The heavy rains lashed wide parts of Jammu region including Reasi, Katra and Rajouri, where the administration issued an advisory urging people inhabiting flood-prone areas to remain alert.
In Rajouri, a kucha house suffered extensive damage in a mudslide triggered by heavy rainfall at Shahpur village in Kotranka area, officials said, adding that occupants of the house escaped unhurt.
Heavy rain lashed most parts of Rajouri since Monday afternoon, prompting the district administration to issue an advisory for residents living in flood-prone areas, urging them to remain alert in view of the prevailing conditions and the possibility of a sudden rise in water levels in rivers and streams.
Vulnerable areas identified by the administration include the vicinity of the CEO office, Naban Mohalla (riverbank houses), Tariq Bridge area, MLA Housing Colony, low-lying areas of Nowshera town, Bela area of Nowshera and adjoining residential localities, and other habitations situated along riverbanks and flood channels.
Additional vulnerable areas include Peeri, Koteranka, Darhal and downstream villages of Rajouri and Nowshera.
The administration has advised residents of these areas to voluntarily shift elderly persons, children, pregnant women, persons with disabilities and essential belongings to safer locations without waiting for water levels to rise.
Citizens have also been asked to remain prepared for evacuation at short notice and cooperate with police, State Disaster Response Force, civil defence, revenue and other emergency response teams, according to the advisory.
Reports from Poonch said the Mendhar administration, accompanied by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and officials of various line departments, visited the landslide-hit Bosa Jabra/ Sarroti village to assess the situation as continuous slope movement, triggered by heavy rains, continues to threaten lives and property.
The inspection was led by Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Mendhar Irfan Rashid Kataria, who was accompanied by Naib Tehsildar Mohd Ashfaq, SDRF personnel and officials from different departments. The team inspected the affected area, interacted with residents and reviewed the ongoing relief measures.
Officials said the landslide, which first struck on July 22, is still active, with the hill continuing to slide. Five houses have been damaged, while two Government Schools have also suffered extensive damage. Around 10 to 12 more houses have developed major cracks and have been declared unsafe for habitation.
The landslide has also affected a graveyard comprising around 200 graves, with several graves reportedly damaged due to the shifting earth. Residents said the landslide has already stretched for nearly one kilometre and is gradually advancing towards another residential area, raising fresh concerns among the locals.
According to the administration, 12 families comprising 73 persons have been affected. A temporary relief camp has been established, where tents, ration and other essential supplies are being provided to the displaced families. Officials said a detailed assessment of the losses is underway and all possible assistance will be extended to the affected residents.
SDM Kataria said the administration is closely monitoring the situation and every possible step is being taken to ensure the safety of the people. He said SDRF and other departments have been deployed in the area, while alternative arrangements would also be made for students after damage to the Government Middle School.
Meanwhile, Meteorological Centre Srinagar said that the prevailing wet spell is expected to continue through the week.
It has forecast light to moderate rain and thundershowers at many places on August 3 and 4, particularly during the afternoon, evening and early morning hours, with the possibility of heavy rain, brief intense showers and torrential rainfall in a few districts.
The forecast indicates light to moderate rain and thundershowers at many places between August 5 and 7, accompanied by brief intense showers at isolated locations.
Weather activity is expected to decrease between August 8 and 10, although scattered light rain and isolated intense showers are still likely.
According to the India Meteorological Department’s evening weather bulletin, Jammu recorded the highest rainfall in the Union Territory during the day, receiving 24.4 mm between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm, followed by Katra with 8 mm, Kupwara with 0.8 mm and Gulmarg with 0.6 mm, while Pahalgam and Batote recorded trace rainfall during the same period.
During the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Monday, Katra recorded the highest rainfall at 31.8 mm, followed by Srinagar with 3.6 mm, Bhaderwah with 3 mm and Pahalgam with 1 mm.
The MeT Centre warned of heavy rain and brief intense showers in a few districts of the Jammu division on August 3 and 4. It cautioned that torrential rainfall over vulnerable areas during the next five days could trigger flash floods, landslides, mudslides, shooting stones and a rapid rise in water levels in local streams and nallahs.
The department advised residents, pilgrims and tourists to remain alert, avoid unnecessary travel through vulnerable areas during periods of intense rainfall, and follow advisories issued by local authorities.
