The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — A flood-like situation was witnessed in Keller area of southern Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday after the cloudburst occurred at Chowgam Kellar area while the rains lashed most parts of Jammu and Kashmir, bringing down the mercury across the Union Territory.

As per the details available with the news agency KNO, the cloudburst at Chowgam Kellar led to a flood-like situation today as the muddy water entered several residential houses. Although no damage occurred due to the incident, the muddy water has entered the residential houses in the hamlet today, the locals informed.

Flash floods also hit Achgoza village in the Valley's southern district of Pulwama. The village in Rajpora Tehsil of the district experienced severe disruption last night due to flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in the nearby forest area.

Independent weather forecaster Faizan Arif Keng said the sudden cloudburst resulted in the rapid accumulation of water, submerging the village and several residential properties.

A local resident described the situation, saying the water rose so quickly that they had no time to react. "Within minutes, our homes were submerged, and we had to evacuate hastily."

Another resident expressed relief that the water levels are now receding. Currently, water levels are decreasing, allowing villagers to begin assessing the damage and cleaning up.

DC Pulwama, Basharat Qayoom said the situation is being closely monitored and efforts are underway to provide necessary assistance to the affected families.

Meanwhile, below normal temperature was recorded at all the stations across Jammu and Kashmir as the rainfall continued from the wee hours of this morning till the afternoon.

As per the details, Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a rainfall of 8.8mm from 8:30 this morning to 5:30 in the evening.

Qazigund, a gateway of Kashmir, has recorded a precipitation of just 1.2mm while Pahalgam recorded 6.2mm during the period. Kupwara, Kokernag and Gulmarg recorded precipitation of 1.3mm, 1.4mm and 2.2mm respectively.

According to the details, Jammu’s Batote has recorded the highest precipitation with 24.9mm in the last 24 hours till 8:30 am followed by 4.8mm in Banihal.

Meanwhile, the weatherman has predicted the possibility of a brief spell of rain and thundershower at a few places during daytime and light to moderate rain and thundershower at many places of J&K towards late night or early morning during the next three days till August 20.

Director Meteorological Department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said that there is a possibility of a brief spell of rain and thundershower at a few places during daytime and light to moderate rain and thundershower at isolated places of J&K towards late night or early morning from August 21 to August 23.

The MeT has also predicted the possibility of intense showers for brief periods and heavy rainfall in Jammu division that may lead to flash floods, landslides, mudslides and shooting stones over vulnerable places of J&K during the next three days.

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KULGAM — At least 150 people were rescued and shifted to safer places while around 30 houses suffered damage after a cloudburst occurred in the upper reaches of Tangmarg area of Damhal Hanjipora in south Kashmir's Kulgam district on Saturday.

Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Noorabad, Bashir-Ul-Hassan told the news agency KNO that a cloudburst occurred in the upper reaches of Tangmarg, a far-flung village of the district.

He said that soon after the cloudburst occurred, a team was rushed to the spot; however, no loss of life was reported in the incident.

Meanwhile, a local said that there was a sudden increase in the discharge of muddy water, which later entered the houses and schools besides orchards in the villages, located downhill. He said the increase in muddy waters created panic among the people of Check-i-Watoo and Asnoor villages.

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) Kulgam, Mohammad Imran Khan said that around 150 people have been shifted to safer places and around 30 houses and orchards suffered damage due to the cloudburst.

He said that soon after the incident, all assistance work was started and “we have provided a little relief to affected families while more steps are being taken in this regard.”

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RAMBAN — Over 80 sheep and goats perished after a cloudburst hit the Shiva post in Banihal area of Ramban district on Wednesday morning.

As per the news agency CNS, the cloudburst hit the makeshift tent and cattle belonging to Manzoor Ahmed son of Ab Rahim, resident of Dhani Bakhta Kathua at Shiva Post tunnel top Banihal, resulting in the death of more than 80 livestock including sheep and goats while as more than one dozen of cattle is injured. However, no loss of human life was reported in the incident.

Meanwhile, SDPO Banihal Nisar Ahmad Khawaja, SHO Banihal Munir Ahmad Khan and in-charge police post Harish Kumar Jawahar Tunnel are on the spot.

The nomads have urged the authorities to provide immediate relief to them so that they can restart their sheep rearing business.

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JAMMU — Intense rainfall coupled with cloudbursts triggered massive flash floods in Jammu parts, damaging many residential houses and other structures on Thursday.

As per reports by the news agency KNO, dozens of houses and structures suffered damage due to rains, flash floods and landslides in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Poonch, Rajouri, Ramban, Udhampur and Reasi districts.

Authorities rescued some school children and teachers on the city outskirts while some bridges were washed away and scores of vehicles were stuck on roads and highways in various districts of the region.

The Jammu-Srinagar national highway was also closed for traffic due to landslides and shooting stones in the Ramban district, resulting in the halting of the Amarnath Yatra at Chanderkot.

The water level of most of the rivers like Chenab, Tawi, Ujh, Basantar and other Nallahs was running above the danger mark.

Officials said that the entire region recorded heavy rainfall since early Thursday morning, adding that rainfall in Jammu between 8.30 hours to 9.30 hours recorded around 98 mm, which is close to a cloudburst (100mm).

“In Jammu, police and locals swung into action and rescued students and teachers trapped in a school building due to flash floods in the Muthi-Udhaywala area," the officials said.

Several people escaped unhurt when an old building collapsed due to heavy rains in the Kanak Mandi area. "Most of the roads and dozens of colonies in Jammu city were inundated due to heavy rainfall gauged over 80 mm in a few hours,” they said.

The officials said that the worst-affected areas in Jammu city due to the rainfall and subsequent flash floods were Nanaknagar, Trikuta Nagar, Channi, Bahu Fort, Keran, lower Roopnagar, Kangrail, Raipur, Kot-Bhalwal, Burn and Ghrota, Paloura, Takab Tillo, Channi Himmat and other low-lying areas where the rainwater entered houses.

“Dozens of vehicles were trapped on a highway in Kathua. In Kishtwar, a foot-bridge was washed away in the Afti area,” the officials said. “In Reasi district, the new track to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop the Trikuta hills was closed as a precautionary measure following heavy rains in the area.”

As per the advisory, those residing in slide-prone areas should remain extra vigilant and report any untoward incident to the administration at the earliest.

"The Amarnath Yatra convoys that left Jammu have been halted at Chanderkote. Travellers are advised not to undertake the journey before confirming the status of the highway from our control rooms in Jammu and Srinagar," a department official said.

Meanwhile, during the past 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) observed rainfall and thunderstorms at many places in Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan and Muzaffarabad.

Furthermore, the IMD forecast adds that fairly widespread showers, along with isolated heavy falls (64.5 mm-115.5 mm), thunderstorms and lightning, may very well continue over Jammu-Kashmir on Thursday and Friday, (July 28-29).

Accordingly, the IMD’s regional MeT centre in Srinagar has issued an Orange Alert (‘be prepared’ for rough weather) over the districts of Jammu, Kathua and Kishtwar on Thursday and Friday. All the other districts will remain on a Yellow Alert (‘be aware’ of local weather) during this 48-hour period.

Since the beginning of July, Jammu-Kashmir has collectively recorded 164.9 mm precipitation, which marks a 4% increase compared to its average for this time frame. However, these rain figures look set to bloat further owing to the ongoing rain spell.

In fact, these intense rains will also engulf the neighbouring northern and north-western states until August 1, with Himachal, Uttarakhand, north Haryana and Chandigarh prone to receiving very heavy precipitation over the next 2-3 days.

Three houses damaged due to incessant rains in Budgam

At least three residential houses were damaged after the land caved in the Rawatpora Khag area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Thursday.

Official sources, as per news agency KNT, said that three houses were damaged after land sunk due to wet weather. They said no local, however, has been injured.

The damaged houses belong to Abdul Rashid Dar, Abdul Rashid Rather and Abdul Gani Bhat.

Police and some officials from the administration have rushed to the spot to assess the quantum of loss. All the residents have been shifted to a safe location.

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SRINAGAR — At least 52 sheep, eight horses and five cows have died due to cloud bursts and inclement weather in the upper forest areas in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, officials said.

District Sheep officer Budgam, Dr Ashraf said that as per initial details in Dishkhall, Durian, Lathermand, Ayud, Koreg, and other upper reaches of Budgam district, at least 52 sheep have died in the last two days due to cloudburst and inclement weather.

"The death toll may increase with time as the areas have no mobile accessibility, while these nomad families are grazing the animals," he said, adding that a massive rescue operation is underway in the areas.

“Our teams are on job at all the places and are involved in rescue and necessary things,” he said over the phone.

The officer has appealed to all the shepherds who are grazing their cattle in the upper reaches of Budgam that keeping the weather circumstances under consideration, they should come to plain areas till the weather improves.

Sources said that eight horses and five cows have also died in the upper reaches of the district. However, the official confirmation was awaited as the phone of the District Animal Husbandry Officer was switched off.

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