JAMMU/SRINAGAR, July 9: Heavy rains continued to batter large parts of Jammu and Kashmir today, damaging residential structures and local infrastructure, and triggering landslides and flash floods in several vulnerable regions.In Poonch district’s Ajamabad village of Mandi tehsil, two residential houses were damaged early morning due to a landslide, while in the remote Sazar area of Kishtwar’s Padder region, a flash flood caused by downpour in the upper reaches swept away four water mills. The widespread rainfall disrupted normal life across both regions, bringing with it a wave of destruction in hilly terrains and vulnerable settlements.In Ajamabad village (Ward Number 5), the incident occurred around 5 AM when large boulders rolled down a nearby hill and struck the homes of Mohd Sabir and Mohd Sharif. One of the houses, a Kaccha structure, suffered extensive damage, while the other—made of concrete—was partially affected.
Fortunately, there were no casualties, as the families had shifted to safer locations two days earlier, having noticed continued instability in the hill slope behind their homes. According to local residents, minor landslides from the same hillock have been occurring intermittently for the past five to six days and are still continuing, causing considerable anxiety in the community.
In Kishtwar, the flash flood in the Kough Nallah was reported in the Sazar area of Padder following intense rainfall in the upper reaches. SDM Padder, Amit Kumar, stated that although the affected zone is uninhabited, four water mills were destroyed in the sudden gush of water. The flooding caused a temporary surge in the stream’s water level, which has since receded, and no injuries or fatalities were reported.
The rain, however, was not confined to these areas alone. Several other districts in Jammu region—namely Samba, Rajouri, Doda, Ramban, Reasi, and Jammu itself—experienced light to moderate rainfall. Jammu district recorded the highest rainfall at 22 mm, which led to the rise in water levels in local rivers, seasonal nallahs, and streams. Low-lying areas reported incidents of waterlogging, further disrupting daily life.
Meanwhile, the Kashmir Valley experienced a sharp drop in temperatures after continuous rainfall over the past three days, offering much-needed relief from the intense heatwave that had gripped the region. Srinagar, which had recorded a record-breaking maximum temperature of 37.4 degrees Celsius on July 5—its highest in 72 years—saw a drastic fall of 15 degrees. On Tuesday, the city recorded a maximum temperature of 22.7°C, which is 8.0 degrees below normal.
Other key stations in the Valley also recorded significant temperature drops: Qazigund settled at 23.1°C (5.5°C below normal), Pahalgam at 20.5°C (5.7°C below normal), Kokernag at 23.9°C (3.4°C below normal), Kupwara at 23.8°C (7.3°C below normal), and Gulmarg at 15.6°C (6.2°C below normal). The persistent rainfall has broken the heatwave that prevailed since late June and brought temporary weather relief to the Valley.
According to Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of the Meteorological Department, generally cloudy skies with intermittent light to moderate rain and thundershowers are expected to continue across many parts of Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow. “Some places in both Kashmir and Jammu divisions may receive intense showers, and heavy rainfall is likely at isolated locations in the Jammu region,” he said.
Looking ahead, the MeT forecast indicates a return of hot and humid weather from July 11 to 13, with a possibility of light rain and thundershowers at scattered places. Another spell of light to moderate rain is likely between July 14 and 16.
In light of the prevailing conditions, the Meteorological Department has issued an advisory warning of possible flash floods, landslides, mudslides, and shooting stones, especially in hilly and vulnerable areas. The advisory also cautioned of a likely rise in the water levels of rivers, streams, and local nallahs, as well as waterlogging in low-lying zones. Farmers across J&K have been advised to suspend irrigation and other agricultural activities until the weather stabilizes.
