Kashmir Storm Havoc: Fierce Winds Rip Roofs, Cut Power in Valley
By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 11 July 2025
The Storm Strikes
Just days after a record-breaking heatwave, Kashmir faced yet another weather onslaught on Friday evening, July 11, as gusty winds and heavy rainfall battered parts of the Valley, especially central and north Kashmir.
Key Impact Zones:
- Kupwara District: Rooftops ripped apart in residential zones, especially Qaziabad, Kralgund Market, and nearby villages.
- Baramulla: Multiple electric poles downed, leaving many areas without power.
- Srinagar: Widespread power outages reported, trees and poles uprooted, plunging parts of the city into complete darkness.
“Our roof just flew off. We had to take shelter in our neighbor’s house,” said Shabir Ahmad, a resident of Kralgund.
Road & Infrastructure Damage
- Vehicles crushed under debris in Kupwara and Baramulla.
- Blocked roads disrupted traffic and emergency vehicle access, especially in:
- Sopore
- Handwara
- Downtown Srinagar
- Local authorities said several transformers and wires were damaged, affecting mobile networks and power supply.
Weather Alerts Issued
The Meteorological Department warned of:
- Wind gusts up to 50 kmph
- Flash flood and landslide risk in:
- Rajouri
- Poonch
- Baramulla
- Anantnag
- Gurez
- Possibility of mudslides in hilly and deforested terrains
“People should avoid non-essential travel and stay away from damaged electric poles or leaning trees,” a MeT official advised.
Emergency Measures & Restoration Efforts
- The Power Development Department (PDD) deployed emergency teams to:
- Remove debris
- Replace fallen poles
- Begin transformer repair
- Municipal and Rural Development bodies are:
- Clearing blocked roads
- Providing temporary shelter to affected families
- Local mosques and panchayat ghars have opened doors for emergency accommodation.
“We are doing our best to restore power by tonight,” said an official from the Kupwara PDD office.
Travel & Safety Advisory
Authorities urged:
- Travelers to delay non-essential trips in storm-hit districts
- Local residents to:
- Avoid touching fallen wires
- Stay indoors
- Keep flashlights and mobile power backups ready
Air and rail services remained largely unaffected as of Friday night, but officials noted some delays in highway traffic along Srinagar-Baramulla and Kupwara-Bandipora routes.
From Fire to Flood: A Weather Whiplash
This latest storm came on the heels of:
- A record heatwave that pushed temperatures to 37.4°C in Srinagar
- Unstable atmospheric conditions intensified by climate anomalies and soil heat retention
“Extreme heat followed by intense rain is a dangerous cocktail. It weakens infrastructure,” warned an environmental expert from SKUAST.
