Cloudbursts, heavy rains leave 2 dead in J&K

MeT warns more heavy rain over next 5 days, Traffic suspended on NH-44

Jammu Tawi, Aug 3: Two persons were killed 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. Traffic on the strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was suspended, while rescue teams evacuated dozens of stranded residents from flood-hit areas.

Officials said a woman, Naseema Begum of Warnow, died after a cloudburst triggered flash floods in Himli area of Lolab in Kupwara district. Another person, Murtaza Bashir of Boniyar in Baramulla, drowned in a water body in Singhpora amid the inclement weather.

Shopian district was the worst affected, where cloudbursts in the upper reaches triggered flash floods in Zawoora, Badrhama and Kijarsinda villages. Floodwaters entered several houses in Badrhama within minutes, damaging household belongings and inundating agricultural fields.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) launched rescue operations and safely evacuated around 80 people, including schoolchildren and staff members. Officials said no fatalities were reported from Shopian, though several houses and public infrastructure suffered damage.

In Anantnag district, a cloudburst struck Batkoot in Pahalgam, damaging a kacha house. Heavy rain also caused the collapse of the rear concrete wall of the Nunwan base camp, allowing water to enter the premises and damage several accommodation tents. The Aishmuqam-Pahalgam road was blocked near Langnai Bridge due to flooding, while a bridge at Batkoot also sustained damage.

Cloudbursts and heavy rains also affected Bandipora district, where roads were damaged in the Arin-Dardpora area, disrupting movement. In Ganderbal, strong winds blew away the roof of a 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 due to slush and slippery conditions. Restoration work was underway, and commuters were advised to avoid travel until the highway is declared safe. Heavy rainfall was also reported from Rajouri, where authorities kept a close watch on rivers and streams flowing near danger levels.

The Meteorological Department said light to moderate rain and thundershowers are likely across Jammu and Kashmir on August 3 and 4, with heavy rain expected at isolated places. Similar weather is forecast till August 7, followed by scattered showers till August 10.

The MeT Department warned that intense rainfall over the next five days could trigger flash floods, landslides and shooting stones in vulnerable areas, particularly in parts of Jammu division, and advised people to remain alert and avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rain.

Flash floods hit Kargil

Leh, Aug 3: 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 agind 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.

35 Cloudbursts claim 31 lives across J&K

Chenab Valley worst hit; experts seek stronger disaster preparedness

Jammu Tawi, Aug 3: Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed at least 35 cloudburst incidents this year, claiming 31 lives and causing extensive damage to homes, roads, bridges and other public infrastructure.

Official data shows that 22 cloudbursts occurred between June 1 and mid-July. Persistent heavy rainfall during the latter half of July and early August triggered several more incidents, pushing the total beyond 35.

Most fatalities were caused by cloudbursts, flash floods and rain-induced landslides, with the Jammu division recording the highest toll. The worst-affected districts include Poonch, Rajouri, Kathua, Doda and Kishtwar, while parts of Kashmir, particularly Shopian and Kupwara, have also witnessed repeated flash floods.

The latest spell of extreme weather on Monday claimed two lives after cloudbursts struck Kupwara, Shopian, Bandipora and Anantnag, while heavy rainfall disrupted normal life across both Jammu and Kashmir divisions.

Officials said recurring cloudbursts have damaged dozens of houses, shops, schools, roads, bridges, irrigation channels and agricultural fields. Flash floods have inundated several villages, forcing evacuations and large-scale rescue operations.

The strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has also remained vulnerable, with repeated closures caused by landslides, mudslides and shooting stones, disrupting passenger traffic and the movement of essential supplies.

Disaster management authorities said the mountainous districts of the Chenab Valley, particularly Kishtwar and Doda, along with upper reaches of Shopian, Kupwara and other hilly areas of Kashmir, remain among the most vulnerable because of their steep terrain and proximity to seasonal streams.

Meteorologists describe a cloudburst as an extremely intense, highly localised rainfall event in which more than 100 mm of rain falls within an hour over an area of about 20-30 sq km, often triggering flash floods and landslides with little warning.

Experts say the increasing frequency of cloudbursts is linked to the interaction of moisture-laden southwest monsoon winds with western disturbances over the Himalayas. Steep mountain slopes force moisture-rich air to rise rapidly, forming towering storm clouds that can suddenly collapse and release massive volumes of rain over a small area.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Geological Survey of India have recommended strengthening early warning systems through X-band Doppler weather radars, automated weather stations and real-time community alerts. They have also called for hazard mapping, stricter regulation of construction in flood-prone areas, controlled development in ecologically fragile zones, afforestation and wetland conservation to minimise the impact of future cloudbursts.