Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, July 22

Heavy monsoon rains swelled rivers and streams across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, with authorities keeping a close watch on flood-prone areas as the Chenab rose above the danger mark in the Jammu region and the Jhelum remained below warning levels in Kashmir.

The Jhelum was flowing below the alarm level at all three monitoring stations at Sangam, Ram Munshi Bagh and Asham, according to the Irrigation and Flood Control Department.

Several tributaries and streams, however, crossed flood declaration levels, including the Sheeshnag, Overa and Lidder nallahs in Pahalgam, Dachigam Nallah in Srinagar, Sukhnag in Budgam, Madhumati Nallah in Bandipora and the Ferozepora Nallah’s Kunzer branch in Baramulla.

The Veshaw Nallah, the Jhelum’s largest tributary by discharge, also recorded a rise in water levels but remained below the alert mark.

The situation was more precarious in parts of the Jammu region, where the Chenab crossed the danger level at Akhnoor and several other water bodies and streams in Reasi, Kathua, Samba and adjoining areas recorded sharp fluctuations.

The latest spell of rain began early Sunday and has caused widespread disruption across the union territory. More than 22 people have been killed and seven remain missing following floods, cloudbursts and landslides in the Pir Panjal districts of Rajouri and Poonch, while several districts have reported damage to homes, roads, crops and public infrastructure.

In Kashmir, floodwaters from the swollen Sukhnag Nallah swept away a shopping complex in Budgam’s Beerwah on Tuesday. Flash floods and landslides have also damaged houses, agricultural land, roads and apple orchards in parts of Budgam, Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara.

South Kashmir recorded the heaviest rainfall in the Valley on Wednesday. Kathua in the Jammu region received 124.5 mm of rain over 12 hours, followed by Reasi with 109 mm and Katra with 91.4 mm.

In Kashmir, Gulmarg recorded 35 mm, Qazigund 33.2 mm and Kokernag 32.2 mm.

The persistent cloud cover also pushed temperatures sharply below normal. Srinagar recorded a maximum of 20 degrees Celsius, nearly 10 degrees below normal, while Gulmarg recorded 14 degrees.

The Meteorological Department forecast widespread rain and thunderstorms, with isolated heavy to very heavy spells, through Thursday morning before conditions gradually improve.

The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained closed because of landslides in Ramban, while the annual Amarnath pilgrimage was suspended on both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes.

The Shiv Khori, Machail and Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimages were also suspended as authorities prioritised the safety of pilgrims amid continuing bad weather.