Flash floods and landslides were witnessed across many districts of Jammu and Kashmir as heavy rains lashed J&K on Saturday. As per the officials, all districts of J&K received widespread rains on Saturday with many districts witnessing mudslides, flash floods, and landslides.
There were reports of flash floods in Fakir Gujri area in the Srinagar outskirts. Reports of orchards and standing crops getting damaged due to flash floods were received from Kupwara. The officials said that due to poor visibility, the chopper service to Amarnath Yatra was also halted temporarily.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department (MeT) predicted improvement in weather in Kashmir from Sunday forenoon. They said that the weather would be cloudy, but there is no major activity predicted after Sunday afternoon.
However, the officials warned about more landslides and flash floods in Jammu region due to the prediction of heavy showers there on Saturday night. Deputy Director MeT, Mukhtar Ahmad told that although the weather would improve from Sunday forenoon, J&K would generally witness isolated thundershowers till July 26.
“Today, widespread rains were witnessed across all districts of J&K, which triggered landslides and flashfloods across many places, especially Doda and Kupwara. There have been heavy rains for the past two days, which triggered these activities. The next 24 hours are crucial as there is the chance of more landslides, mudslides, shooting stones, and flash floods. The same is predicted for the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, Srinagar-Leh National Highway, and the Mughal Road. People living in upper and middle reaches should be watchful and avoid unnecessary travel,” he said Ahmad said that following continuous rains, the temperature was below normal but it would improve from Sunday.
As the temperature was below normal on Saturday, Srinagar recorded 22.5 degrees Celsius maximum temperature and a minimum of 19.4 degrees Celsius.
Jammu recorded 28.2 degree Celsius maximum temperature while the minimum temperature recorded was 26.3 degrees Celsius.
Leh recorded 21.6 degrees Celsius maximum and 10.5 degree Celsius minimum temperature.
As per the MeT, J&K would witness widespread light to moderate rain and thundershowers with isolated heavy falls over Kashmir and Jammu in the next 24 hours. Following a heavy spell of rain, the vehicular traffic movement was disrupted for a couple of hours on the Mehar–Cafeteria stretch of Ramban on Srinagar Jammu National Highway on Saturday morning.
Officials said that vehicular traffic on Srinagar Jammu National Highway was disrupted following heavy rains that caused mudslides and shooting stones on the Mehar-Cafeteria stretch of Ramban and Mom Passi Ramsu. However, the Highway was restored for stranded traffic immediately by pressing men and machinery by the concerned agency, NHAI.
Traffic authorities said that Srinagar Jammu National Highway remained blocked for one hour 35 minutes due to mudslides and shooting stones on the Mehar-Cafeteria and Mom Passi Ramsu in Ramban. They said that after clearing landslides and stones, hundreds of vehicles ferrying Amarnath pilgrims, tourists, private cars, and light and medium passenger vehicles were allowed to cross Ramban for their respective destinations in a regulated manner.
Officials informed that out of fresh batch of 3472 Amarnath pilgrims, who reached here from Jammu today, 2515 Yatris who had opted for Pahalgam route were halted at Chanderkote while 957 pilgrims, who had to undertake Yatra from Baltal route, were allowed to proceed after the restoration of highway for vehicular movement. “However, Pahalgam route Amarnath Yatris, who were already stranded at Chanderkote, were allowed to proceed today after a night halt,” they informed.
They said that vehicular traffic remained slow due to slippery road conditions at Dalwass, Mehar-Cafeteria, and Mom Passi besides few other single-lane road stretches. They further said that traffic also remained slow due to the breakdown of a few heavy vehicles between Nashri and Banihal.
Meanwhile, traffic authorities issued an advisory for Sunday stating that subject to fair weather and good road conditions, the vehicles ferrying Amarnath pilgrims, and other passenger light-medium vehicles would be allowed to ply on either side of the highway. They said that heavy vehicles would be allowed from Qazigund, Kashmir to move towards Jammu on Sunday.
A cloudburst triggered flash floods in the Union Territory of Ladakh, causing debris to flow into the main market area and throwing life out of gear, but there are no reports of any loss of life, officials said on Saturday. The cloudburst hit the Gangles area of the Union territory late Friday night and left several parts of Leh town inundated, they said, adding the debris entered many buildings in the low-lying areas, causing some damage to them.
A police spokesperson said rescue and rehabilitation work was underway in Leh town, especially in Khakshal, Sanker, Skampari, Chhubi, Zangsti and the main market Gonpa Soma areas. As a result of the flash floods, a programme of the Dalai Lama in Leh was postponed, the officials said.
They said some shops were damaged in the Gangles area and there was a lot of debris in the Chokhang Vihara area. Many tourists, including foreigners, lent a helping hand and were seen cleaning the main market area following the flash flood.
President of the Ladakh Buddhist Association Thupstan Chewwang said soon after the flash floods struck, Army personnel arrived voluntarily and helped minimise the damage. “I want to thank the Army,” he added.
“Since the morning, hundreds of Buddhists, Muslims, and foreigners have rendered their services, which also indicates religious harmony and unity in Ladakh. All of these people have come voluntarily to help in the restoration work,” Chewwang said.
He said Chogam Vihara is a low-lying area and so water and debris entered buildings like their meeting hall, causing damage to furniture etc. “There is more than six inches of mud. Though there is not much loss economically, this is a lesson for us for the future. The UT administration will have to think over it and rectify the drainage system, which is in shambles,” he said.
Ladakh Police, meanwhile, requested the general public, civil societies and volunteers of various organisations to aid the police and civil administration in rescue efforts so that normal life and traffic regulations are resumed at the earliest.
