Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing frequent flash floods triggered by cloudbursts with the onset of Monsoon. The extreme weather events are seen as more than natural phenomena propelled by climate change.

It was like a doomsday in Thathri town of Jammu Doda district on July 7 when flash floods caused extensive damage to houses and shops. The intensity of flash floods after cloudbursts was such that the gushing waters carried boulders, rocks and tons of soil burying several houses and vehicles. On July 10, flash floods hit Ari Sarhuti village of Mendhar in Poonch district after heavy rainfall in the area. with water damaging human habitations and agriculture fields, Thick cloud cover formed over south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on July 11 evening. Suddenly there were thunders followed by cloudbursts and within no time water gushed in the Oowera area of Pahalgam, damaging several huts and hotels.

Flash Flood was also reported in Shangus area of Anantnag causing rise in the Aaripath stream. 12 cloudbursts were reported in 12 hours in when the southwest monsoon arrived in Jammu and Kashmir on July 2. Chenab Valley in Jammu besides north and south Kashmir areas were affected by flash floods. Experts state that cloudbursts are caused by interaction of southwest monsoon currents with feeble western disturbance. Frequency of cloudbursts and flash floods increases during the pre-monsoon and monsoon period. As monsoon progresses, there is possibility of short-duration high-intensity rainfall events, particularly in mountainous districts of Jammu, including the Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley.

Such weather patterns are........

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