Leave trail of damage in multiple districts; studies flag growing vulnerability in Himalayan region; scientists call for stronger monitoring, early warning systems
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded at least 15 cloudburst incidents in this month so far, with the events triggering flash floods, mudslides and landslides across several districts.
The incidents have damaged roads, houses, agricultural land and public infrastructure while disrupting connectivity in several parts of the Union Territory.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), one of the recent incidents was reported from the Bhalesa area of Doda district, where flash floods carried mud and debris onto roads, cutting off access to several interior villages.
North Kashmir’s Tulail Valley and Gurez were also hit by several cloudbursts earlier this month, causing damage to roads and other infrastructure
On July 7, a cloudburst struck the upper reaches of Thathri in Doda district, sending floodwaters and debris into the town. Several vehicles and shops were damaged, while traffic on the Doda-Kishtwar National Highway was disrupted before restoration work was taken up.
Earlier this month, authorities also recorded a cluster of 12 localized cloudburst incidents within nearly 12 hours across parts of the Chenab Valley and adjoining high-altitude areas, triggering flash floods and landslides at multiple locations.
On July 11, two cloudbursts were reported in the forest areas of Awoora and Dehwathu in Anantnag district. The sudden rise in the water level of the Overa stream inundated nearby areas, including hotels in the Pahalgam tourist resort.
Meteorologists said such events are becoming more common across the western Himalayan region as warmer atmospheric conditions allow more moisture to accumulate before being released over a limited area.
“Cloudbursts are highly localised events, but the pattern of intense rainfall over short durations is becoming more frequent in the Himalayan region,” said Sonam Lotus, Director of the Meteorological Centre, Ladakh.
A recent study published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, which analysed 68 cloudburst and heavy rainfall events across Jammu and Kashmir, identified the Shri Amarnath Ji basin and Tral tehsil in Pulwama district among the most vulnerable locations. The researchers said recurring extreme rainfall has increased the risk of flash floods, debris flows and landslides in these areas.
Another study examining infrastructure vulnerability in the north-western Himalayas found that rainfall events of around 40 mm in three hours and 60 to 140 mm in a day are capable of triggering flash floods and slope failures, particularly along transport corridors such as the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
The researchers said the findings underline the need for improved hazard mapping, weather monitoring, land-use planning and early warning systems in mountainous regions where short-duration rainfall events are becoming more frequent.
According to Meteorological data, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed an increase in localised extreme weather events over the past decade.
It attributes the trend to rising temperatures, changing atmospheric circulation and declining glacier cover, which are altering precipitation patterns across the western Himalayas.
Experts said strengthening forecasting systems, regulating construction in vulnerable areas and improving community-level disaster preparedness would be essential to reducing the impact of future extreme weather events—(KNO)
