The short URL of the present article is: https://tirnews.com/phim
Jammu & Kashmir was hit by catastrophic downpours, marking the highest one-day rainfall since 1910. Jammu recorded 380 mm of rain in just 24 hours, nearly matching its entire August average—and eclipsing the previous record of 270.4 mm in 1988 (The Siasat Daily, Hindustan Times).
The deluge triggered devastating flash floods, landslides, and sudden cloudbursts, especially along the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage route, resulting in 41 confirmed fatalities (The Economic Times, The Times of India).
The Human Impact
- Pilgrimage Disaster: A major landslide near Katra buried pilgrims during the sacred Vaishno Devi trek, accounting for 34 of the 41 deaths (The Economic Times, The Times of India).
- Transportation Disrupted: Rail services to Jammu and Katra were cancelled, and numerous highways were rendered impassable (The Indian Express, The Times of India).
- Mass Evacuations & Infrastructure Damage: Over 10,000 people were evacuated due to widespread flash flooding. Bridges collapsed, houses were submerged, and telecom services were heavily disrupted (The Siasat Daily, The Times of India).
Government & Emergency Response
- State and Federal Action: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah questioned why the pilgrimage continued despite severe weather warnings, while rescue operations by NDRF, SDRF, army, and local authorities remain ongoing (The Times of India).
- Restoration Efforts: Authorities are scrambling to restore power, water, and communication lines. Schools remain shut, and rescue efforts continue amid unpredictably high water levels in rivers like Jhelum (The Indian Express, The Times of India, AP News).
Climatological Context
- Extreme Rainfall Trends: Jammu witnessed an unprecedented 726% rise over average rainfall, the most intense in decades (Reuters).
- Regional Impacts: The floods are part of a broader Himalayan monsoon disaster affecting northern India and Pakistan, with Pakistan recording over 800 fatalities and massive displacements (AP News).
