Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, July 12

Two cloudbursts triggered flash floods in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district late on Saturday, inundating farmland, damaging tourist accommodation and prompting authorities to deploy emergency teams as monsoon rains swept across large parts of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

The cloudbursts struck within about an hour of each other in the Shangus and Pahalgam areas, sending torrents of water, mud and debris rushing through streams that overflowed into nearby settlements. Although no casualties were immediately reported, officials said damage assessments were under way, and disaster response agencies had been placed on alert.

The incidents came amid widespread rainfall across both the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu division, bringing respite from a prolonged spell of heat and humidity but heightening concerns over flash floods, landslides and swollen streams in the mountainous Himalayan region.

The first cloudburst occurred in the upper reaches of Chatergul in Shangus, where heavy runoff caused the Aaripath stream to swell rapidly.

Floodwaters carrying mud and debris spread into paddy fields, orchards and parts of nearby residential areas, damaging standing crops and agricultural land, officials said.

Roughly an hour later, another cloudburst hit the Overa Wildlife Sanctuary near the tourist resort of Pahalgam, triggering a sudden surge in the Overa Nallah.

The overflowing stream entered several huts and hotels situated along its banks, causing panic among visitors and local residents.

Officials said tourists staying at a hotel near the stream were evacuated to safety and that there had been no reports of injuries.

“There has been no loss of life so far. Teams are assessing the damage at both locations and monitoring the situation closely,” a government official said.

Authorities said personnel from the revenue, police, disaster management and other emergency departments had been deployed to vulnerable areas to monitor water levels and respond to any further deterioration in weather conditions.

Residents and visitors were advised to avoid rivers, streams and low-lying areas, particularly around the Aaripath stream and Overa Nallah, where water levels could rise further if rainfall continued.

The cloudbursts coincided with widespread light to moderate rainfall across much of Jammu and Kashmir, where changing weather conditions ended several days of unusually hot and humid temperatures.

Rain was recorded across south, central and north Kashmir, including the tourist destinations of Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg, as well as along both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes of the ongoing Amarnath pilgrimage.

According to the Meteorological Department, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 30.2 degrees Celsius, down sharply from 34.5 degrees Celsius the previous day, while temperatures also declined in other parts of the Valley.

In the Jammu division, Rajouri received the highest rainfall during the previous 24 hours, with significant precipitation also recorded in Samba, Katra, Jammu, Poonch, Udhampur, Reasi and Kathua.

Meteorological officials forecast further rain and thunderstorms across Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, warning that isolated areas in the Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal region could experience brief but intense downpours capable of triggering flash floods and landslides.

“We expect intermittent spells of rain and thundershowers across many places, with isolated intense showers in vulnerable mountainous areas,” Meteorological Department Director Mukhtar Ahmad said.

Forecasters said weather conditions were expected to improve from July 13 onward, although isolated showers could persist and daytime temperatures were likely to rise again later in the week.

The rainfall also affected the Baltal-Amarnath pilgrimage corridor, where showers made sections of the steep mountain track slippery, prompting authorities to regulate pilgrim movement based on real-time assessments of weather and trail conditions.

Officials said additional rescue personnel, mountain response teams and security forces had been positioned along vulnerable stretches of the route to assist pilgrims if required.

“The safety of pilgrims remains our highest priority,” an official overseeing the yatra arrangements said. “Movement is being regulated according to prevailing weather conditions and the condition of the trekking route.”

Elsewhere, the district administration in Kishtwar issued a weather advisory warning residents of light to moderate rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds through July 14.

Authorities directed emergency departments to remain on high alert and urged people living near rivers, streams and landslide-prone slopes to avoid unnecessary travel and follow official advisories.

Heavy rain also disrupted normal life for a third consecutive day in the Pir Panjal districts of Rajouri and Poonch, where waterlogging affected roads, traffic movement slowed, and low-lying areas were inundated after prolonged downpours.

Officials said emergency response systems remained on standby across the Union Territory as authorities continued to monitor rainfall patterns, river levels and vulnerable mountain catchments, warning that additional spells of heavy rain could trigger further localized flooding over the coming days.