Srinagar, Aug 3: Heavy localised downpours and cloudbursts battered Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, triggering flash floods that inundated homes, damaged roads, washed away crops, and disrupted normal life from south Kashmir’s Pahalgam to north Kashmir’s Lolab Valley.
A woman was swept away by floodwaters as multiple weather-related emergencies unfolded across J&K.
After a bright start to the day, towering clouds gathered over the Valley by evening, unleashing intense rain, hailstorms, and cloudbursts within hours.
A cloudburst accompanied by a severe hailstorm struck Hamli Warnow village in Kupwara’s Lolab Valley, sending torrents of water, mud, and slush through the village. Several houses were damaged, while orchards and standing crops suffered extensive losses.
Minutes later, another cloudburst hit the upper Batkoot area of Pahalgam in Anantnag district, triggering flash floods and panic among residents and tourists.
Wardbal Nallah, Overa Nallah, and other tributaries of the Lidder River swelled rapidly and overflowed, while the Lidder turning turbulent following a sharp rise in water level. The sudden surge also disrupted connectivity.
Officials said strong currents damaged a bridge at Langnai-Batkoo, forcing authorities to suspend traffic.
Bijbehara-Pahalgam road was also blocked due to flooding at Overa. Residents and tourists were advised to avoid the route until restoration work is completed.
Weather observers said water levels in the Sheshnag Nallah and streams flowing from the Aru Valley remained largely stable, indicating the sharp rise in the Lidder was caused by an exceptionally intense, localised cloudburst over the Batkoot-Overa catchment, which sent a massive volume of runoff into the river within a short span.
Another cloudburst struck Arin Dardpora village in Bandipora district, washing away roads, inundating fields, and flooding several houses.
Earlier in the day, an intense localised downpour, which meteorologists said wasn’t a cloudburst, triggered flash floods in Badrhama village of Shopian district.
Floodwaters entered homes within minutes, forcing several families to move to safer places as water levels rose rapidly.
Nearby Zawoora also witnessed severe waterlogging.
No casualties were reported.
District administration and emergency response teams fanned out across the affected areas to assess damage and coordinate relief operations.
In Rajouri district, heavy rain caused streams and rivers to swell, prompting the administration to issue a red alert and urge people to stay away from water bodies and low-lying areas. Strong gusty winds also caused damage in Ganderbal district, blowing off the roof of a house in Bakura village and damaging an electricity pole.
Intense rainfall also lashed Srinagar and other isolated places in the Valley.
Monday’s incidents extend a string of weather-related disasters that have repeatedly struck Jammu and Kashmir during the monsoon.
Flash floods and landslides in Poonch and Rajouri on July 19 left more than 25 people dead, while earlier cloudbursts caused widespread damage to roads, houses, farmland, and livestock in Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban.
Several parts of south Kashmir have also witnessed repeated flash floods over the past month.
The Meteorological Centre Srinagar has forecast intermittent rain and thundershowers across Jammu and Kashmir through August 7, with no prolonged widespread rainfall expected.
Director of the Meteorological Centre Srinagar, Mukhtar Ahmad, said rainfall would remain largely localised, though parts of the Jammu division could witness intense showers. The department forecast light to moderate rain and thundershowers at many places through Tuesday, followed by scattered showers until August 7.
It warned that brief but intense spells could trigger flash floods, landslides, mudslides, shooting stones, and rockfalls, particularly in vulnerable areas of the Jammu division and upper reaches of Kashmir.
People have been advised to avoid rivers, streams, nallahs, and landslide-prone areas and to follow advisories issued by the local administration.
The intense, brief thundershowers and cloudbursts are a recurring phenomenon during the monsoon.
Meanwhile, fresh weather-related incidents were reported from other parts of J&K. Late evening a cloudburst occurred in Kishtwar district, triggering flash floods. Intense downpour also triggered flash floods in Haripora area of Kangan after the Uprash Nallah overflowed due to heavy runoff from the forests.
Another flash flood was reported from Koragbal in Gurez.
Officials said no damage or casualties were reported in these incidents.
CLOUDBURST IN PAHALGAM DISRUPTS WATER UPPLY TO ANANTNAG TOWN
Drinking water supply to Anantnag town and several adjoining areas was disrupted on Monday after multiple cloudbursts in the upper reaches of Pahalgam made the raw water of Lidder Nallah too turbid for treatment at the Bumzoo filtration plant, the Jal Shakti Department said.
The department said water supply to Anantnag town, Uranhal, Batengoo, Khandipora, T B Shah, Donipawa, Mattan, and nearby areas will remain affected until further notice.
It appealed to residents to use water judiciously
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