Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Multiple cloudbursts triggered by intense rainfall struck different parts of Kashmir on Monday, causing flash floods that damaged roads, bridges and residential houses while disrupting normal life across several areas of the Valley, prompting an immediate response from disaster management and administrative agencies.
The worst-affected areas included Badrhama village in Shopian district, Safapora in Bandipora district and Batkoot in the Pahalgam area of Anantnag district, where sudden surges of water inundated roads, low-lying localities and agricultural land within a short span of time, catching many residents off guard.
In Shopian, a cloudburst at Badrhama triggered flash floods that swept through parts of the village, creating panic among residents who had little warning before the water levels rose. In Safapora, floodwaters entered several houses and shops while submerging roads, lanes and orchards, disrupting daily life for families in the low-lying settlement. Batkoot in Pahalgam also witnessed flash floods following a cloudburst, affecting normal life in the tourist heavy area and prompting authorities to take precautionary measures amid ongoing pilgrim and tourist movement in the region.
The adverse weather also damaged road infrastructure and bridges at several places, disrupting vehicular movement and affecting connectivity in the impacted areas, with some routes rendered temporarily impassable as debris and floodwater blocked key stretches.
Police, civil administration, disaster management teams and other emergency response agencies were swiftly deployed to monitor the situation, assist affected residents and begin the process of restoring normalcy in the worst hit pockets. Officials said no loss of life was reported from any of the affected areas till the filing of this report, a relief given the intensity of the flooding described by eyewitnesses.
Authorities have advised people, particularly those living near streams, nallahs and landslide-prone areas, to remain vigilant as wet weather is expected to persist across the Valley in the coming days. The administration said it is continuing to assess the extent of the damage while restoration of affected infrastructure and essential services remains underway. The string of cloudbursts underscores the recurring vulnerability of Kashmir’s hilly and low-lying settlements to sudden extreme rainfall events during the monsoon and post-monsoon period.
