JK reels under August fury as cloudbursts, flash floods ravage region
Experts blame climate change as officials scramble with emergency measures; call grows for stronger disaster preparedness
By: Our Special Correspondent
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir faced one of its harshest August in living memory as a series of cloudbursts, flash floods, and record-breaking rains left a trail of devastation across the Union Territory. From Kishtwar to Reasi and down to the plains of Jammu, lives were lost, property destroyed, and thousands displaced — underlining the region’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather.
The deadliest blow came on August 14, when a massive cloudburst struck Chositi village in Kishtwar district along the Machail Mata pilgrimage route. Within minutes, flash floods swept through the area, destroying houses, washing away roads, and killing at least 60 people. More than 300 were injured, while around 200 remained missing days after the disaster. Rescue teams, including the Army, SDRF, and NDRF, battled difficult terrain to retrieve bodies and evacuate stranded pilgrims.
Just over a week later, on August 25, Jammu city was hit by an extraordinary 190.4 mm of rain in just 24 hours — the second-highest August rainfall in more than a century. Streets turned into rivers, schools and examinations were suspended, and low-lying neighbourhoods were left submerged. Reasi and Ramban districts also witnessed multiple landslides and cloudbursts, adding to the mounting toll.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah placed all departments on high alert and directed the setting up of emergency control rooms in every district. “Our priority is to save lives and provide immediate relief. I have instructed deputy commissioners to ensure that no area remains cut off from assistance,” he said.
But Abdullah also launched sharp criticism at the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, headed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, for allowing the pilgrimage to continue despite repeated weather warnings. “When red alerts were issued, why were yatris not stopped? Human lives cannot be put at risk for administrative complacency,” he remarked.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) defended its preparedness, noting that it had issued red alerts and “nowcasts” days in advance. “Extremely heavy rainfall of more than 20 cm in a day was forecast well in time. The challenge remains communication and enforcement of safety protocols,” said an IMD official.
Scientists have repeatedly warned that J&K’s fragile Himalayan ecosystem is bearing the brunt of global warming. “These aren’t isolated incidents. Climate change is amplifying the frequency and intensity of cloudbursts and flash floods,” explained a climate scientist at Jammu University. “Rising temperatures are increasing atmospheric moisture, which leads to sudden, violent rainfall events.”
Disaster management specialists stressed the urgent need for early warning systems and resilient infrastructure. “We cannot prevent natural disasters, but we can prevent them from becoming human tragedies. Strengthening embankments, enforcing no-construction zones along riverbanks, and training communities in evacuation drills are no longer optional — they are essential,” said a disaster response expert.
For many residents, the month brought only trauma. Shazia Begum, a survivor from Kishtwar, recalled: “The water came down with such force that houses crumbled in minutes. We ran to higher ground, but my neighbour’s family was washed away before our eyes.”
In Jammu, where businesses suffered heavy losses, shopkeeper Ramesh Kumar said: “In one night, I lost goods worth lakhs. The government needs to think beyond relief — we need long-term protection from these floods.”
As relief operations continue and the death toll rises, August 2025 is being remembered as a watershed moment in J&K’s climate story. Experts warn that unless adaptation measures are urgently scaled up, the region could face even worse disasters in the years ahead.
“J&K has always been vulnerable, but the scale of these recent events is unprecedented,” said Dr. Ahmad. “This is a wake-up call not just for the government, but for society at large. The climate crisis is already here.”
