Srinagar, Jul 2: The southwest monsoon arrived in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday with at least 12 cloudbursts reported across J&K in about 12 hours, triggering flash floods, landslides, and mudslides that damaged homes, public infrastructure, and road links across several districts.
The widespread weather activity, driven by advancing monsoon currents interacting with a feeble western disturbance, affected areas from the Chenab Valley in Jammu to north and south Kashmir.
Roads and highways were blocked by floodwaters, mud and debris, while authorities warned that localised extreme weather events are likely to become more frequent as the monsoon advances.
No deaths were reported in the cloudburst incidents.
In a separate incident during the same spell, lightning killed more than 100 sheep belonging to a Bakarwal shepherd near Sinthan Top.
In Doda district’s Bhalessa area, two cloudbursts in Kalalgisar village swelled a tributary of the Chenab River.
Floodwaters and debris inundated villages, partially damaged homes, blocked roads and forced the closure of the Thathri–Kilothran road.
In Bandipora district’s Gurez sector, at least two cloudbursts in Tulail Valley washed away stretches of the Bandipora–Gurez road, uprooted trees, and cut off access to the remote valley.
The Kishanganga River rose sharply, prompting authorities to close the road and begin restoration work.
In Anantnag district’s Gudi Draman-Larnoo area, a cloudburst flooded a government primary school during class hours.
Residents evacuated students before water entered classrooms and no injuries were reported.
Intense rainfall also triggered flooding in Aishmuqam, affecting parts of the market and the shrine area of Hazrat Zainuddin Wali (RA).
In Baramulla district’s Rafiabad area, a cloudburst in Hamam caused Nallah Hamal to overflow, inundating downstream habitations.
Near Sinthan Top, twin cloudbursts triggered flash floods, landslides and mudslides that washed away sections of the Kishtwar-Anantnag National Highway, forcing suspension of traffic while restoration work began.
Flash floods and landslides were also reported from parts of Rajouri and Poonch following intense rainfall.
The weather also disrupted connectivity with Ladakh after multiple cloudbursts blocked the Zanskar-Manali road.
Authorities advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from rivers, streams, and landslide-prone areas until conditions improve.
Meteorological Department Director Mukhtar Ahmad said the activity resulted from the interaction of southwest monsoon currents and a feeble western disturbance.
“The frequency of cloudbursts and flash floods generally increases during the pre-monsoon and monsoon period,” he said. “As the monsoon progresses, the likelihood of short-duration, high-intensity rainfall events increases, particularly in the mountainous districts of Jammu, including the Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley.”
Climatologist Sonam Lotus said such events are linked to moisture-laden monsoon winds interacting with western disturbances.
“These systems can produce intense rainfall over a very small area within a short period,” he said. “Such rainfall events are localised and can quickly trigger flash floods, landslides and mudslides.”
Independent weather forecaster Faizan Ahmad said not all flash floods are caused by cloudbursts.
“A cloudburst is about 100 millimetres of rain in an hour. But even lower amounts of 70 mm in a short period can trigger flash floods in mountainous terrain,” he said, adding that several incidents during the current spell were likely due to intense localised rainfall.
Officials said such events are expected to become more frequent as the monsoon advances, especially in steep Himalayan terrain.
The spell underscores the growing vulnerability of the Himalayan region to short-duration, high-intensity rainfall events.
According to data shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Parliament, floods and heavy rainfall claimed 199 lives, killed 11,693 livestock and damaged thousands of houses across J&K last year.
Ahmad said the weather system is expected to remain active through July 5, bringing light to moderate rain and thundershowers across the region.
He said isolated places may receive intense showers with lightning, hail and gusty winds, increasing the risk of flash floods, landslides and shooting stones along vulnerable highways.
Conditions are expected to gradually improve after July 5.
