#DisasterPreparedness Archives

Jhelum Recedes, Kashmir Breathes Easier After a Night of Anxiety

August 29, 2025 Editor

Jhelum Recedes: Kashmir Flood Scare 2025 Ends, But Questions Over Preparedness Remain By: Javid Amin | 28 Aug 2025 A Night of Fear, A Morning of Relief For the people of Kashmir, the night of August 27–28 was one of sleepless anxiety. Heavy rainfall had swollen the Jhelum River to levels unseen in nearly a decade. At Sangam in South Kashmir, the water level rose to 23.99 feet, well past the flood declaration mark of 21 feet. At Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar, too, the water crept beyond alert levels.…

Climate Change and Flooding in Kashmir – A Himalayan Crisis Unfolding

August 18, 2025 Editor

Climate Change and Flooding in Kashmir: Why the Himalayas Are on the Frontline of a Global Crisis By: Javid Amin | 18 Aug 2025 A Region on the Brink In the last 48 hours, more than 300 lives were tragically lost across India and Pakistan due to catastrophic flooding and landslides. A significant share of this devastation has struck the Kashmir region, long seen as the “crown of the subcontinent” and a place of serene beauty. Once considered a relatively safe zone compared to the flood-prone plains, Kashmir is now…

Cloudbursts in the Himalayas: A Deadly Mix of Nature and Human Activity

August 15, 2025 Editor

When the Sky Opens Without Warning By: Javid Amin | 15 Aug 2025 The Himalayas, often romanticized as serene, snow-clad peaks, are increasingly becoming the scene of sudden, violent weather events. Cloudbursts — once considered rare — are now recurring with alarming regularity in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The result: flash floods, landslides, destruction of homes, and, all too often, loss of life. According to Dr. Yudhbir Singh, Associate Professor of Geology at the University of Jammu, this trend is no accident. It is the product of natural atmospheric…

Chositi Cloudburst Tragedy: Flash Floods, Casualties, and Rescue Efforts Along Machail Mata Yatra Route

August 14, 2025August 14, 2025 Editor

Pilgrimage Route Turns Perilous By: Javid Amin | Jammu | August 14, 2025 On what should have been a day of devotion and community service, the Machail Mata Yatra route in Chositi, Paddar, turned into a scene of devastation. A massive cloudburst on August 14, 2025, triggered sudden flash floods, sweeping away structures, damaging homes, and leaving multiple families in mourning. The disaster struck during peak pilgrimage activity, when langars (community kitchens) were serving thousands of devotees. The sudden torrent washed away one such langar shed and nearby houses, taking…

Kashmir’s Climate Crossroads: Hailstorm Havoc, Aviation Scares, and the Urgent Call for Resilience

May 28, 2025 Editor

Hail, Havoc & Hope: How Kashmir Must Prepare for the Next Climate Shock Srinagar 27 May 2025: In May 2025, the Kashmir Valley experienced a series of extreme weather events that underscored the region’s vulnerability to climate change. A severe hailstorm brought temporary relief from an intense heatwave but also caused significant destruction, disrupting daily life, damaging agriculture, and highlighting the need for enhanced disaster preparedness. The Hailstorm’s Immediate Impact On May 21, 2025, a sudden hailstorm struck Srinagar and surrounding areas, leading to widespread disruption: Flight Disruptions: An IndiGo…

Cloudburst Brings Catastrophe to Ramban: Lives Lost, Homes Destroyed

April 21, 2025 Editor

Cloudburst Triggers Devastation in Ramban: Lives Lost, Hundreds Rescued, Infrastructure Crippled Rambam 20 April 2025: Ramban district in Jammu and Kashmir was hit by an extreme weather calamity on Saturday as a sudden cloudburst and heavy rainfall wreaked havoc, leaving three dead, displacing hundreds, and bringing life to a standstill. The catastrophic event unleashed landslides, flash floods, and debris flows, blocking roads, demolishing buildings, and tossing vehicles into chaos. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH44)—a lifeline of connectivity—has been closed indefinitely, further complicating the rescue and relief efforts underway. A Night…

Earthquake Shakes Kashmir: Tremors Highlight Region’s Seismic Vulnerability

April 19, 2025April 19, 2025 Editor

5.8 Magnitude Earthquake Jolts the Region: Tremors Felt Strongly in Jammu & Kashmir Srinagar 19 April 2025: A moderate earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale struck Afghanistan on Saturday afternoon, sending ripples of tremors across northern India and Pakistan. In Jammu and Kashmir, the tremors were felt sharply, rattling homes and unsettling residents in Srinagar and other parts of the region. The quake has once again highlighted the seismic vulnerability of Kashmir, a region already prone to earthquakes due to its tectonic location. The Event: Kashmir Shaken The earthquake,…

From Uttarakhand to Kashmir: Understanding the Himalayan Development Dilemma in Depth

November 26, 2023November 26, 2023 Editor

Reevaluating Himalayan Development Models: Lessons from Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse and Kashmir Challenges By: Javid Amin The collapse of a tunnel in Uttarakhand recently has reverberated as more than just a tragic incident; it’s a poignant call to reconsider the development strategies in the Himalayan region. To grasp the implications fully, it’s imperative to widen the lens beyond Uttarakhand, shedding light on the similar challenges faced by regions like Kashmir. The Himalayas, known for their breathtaking landscapes and ecological significance, are experiencing increased human intervention. The Uttarakhand tunnel collapse is a…

Dutch scientist warns of strong earthquake in Pakistan

October 2, 2023 Editor

The Solar System Geometry Survey (SSGEOS), a Netherlands-based organization known for its seismic predictions, has predicted a major earthquake in Pakistan within 48 hours. The SSGEOS specializes in monitoring fluctuations of electric charge in the atmosphere near sea level, which they claim are indicative of regions where stronger seismic activity might occur, typically within a range of 1 to 9 days. While the organization emphasizes that the regions they mark as potentially affected are approximations, they provide valuable insights into potential earthquake-prone areas. In a recent prediction, the Dutch scientist…

The Lingering Threat of 2014-Like Floods in Kashmir: Environmental Dangers Looming Large

September 7, 2023 Editor

Rapid urbanization in Kashmir, encroachment of water bodies and adjoining river banks and disappearance of wetlands have disrupted the natural drainage patterns By: Khurshid Ahmed Ganai The recent report of the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) has called for taking more corrective measures to prevent 2014 flood-like disasters. The report has mentioned ‘haphazard developmental activities and infrastructure projects being implemented without sufficient consideration of environmental safety and sustainability.’ Then it has picked ‘mining operations on the flood plains of river Jhelum, construction of railway lines and poorly planned urbanization’…