#DisasterPreparedness Archives

Kashmir Flood Alert 2025: Jhelum River Crosses Danger Mark Again — Why 11 Years of Projects Haven’t Secured the Valley

September 4, 2025 Editor

Big Projects, Little Relief: Kashmir’s 7th Close Flood Call Since 2014 By: Javid Amin | 04 Sep 2025 A Valley on Edge — The Seventh Flood Scare Srinagar, September 4, 2025 — As the Jhelum River surged past danger marks at Sangam and Ram Munshi Bagh this week, residents of Kashmir held their breath. Sirens blared, mosque loudspeakers echoed warnings, and families in low-lying areas scrambled to move valuables to higher floors. For many, the unfolding crisis felt like déjà vu — the haunting shadow of September 2014 returning once…

Kashmir on the Brink: Disaster at Our Doorstep — Why the Valley Remains Unprepared for the Next Flood

September 4, 2025September 4, 2025 Editor

Kashmir on the Brink of Collapse: Disaster at Our Doorstep By: Javid Amin | 04 Sep 2025 A 2025 ground analysis of the Valley’s flood threat, readiness gaps, and the urgent choices before us. The Water is Rising — Again The Valley is holding its breath. The Jhelum has crossed the danger mark at Sangam and is swelling past safe limits in Srinagar. Tributaries like Vishow and Rambiyara are spilling over, and the rain hasn’t stopped. In South Kashmir, fields are lakes; in Srinagar’s low-lying colonies, water is already at…

Melting Dreams: Glacial Lake Floods Cast Shadow Over Kashmir’s Hydropower Future

September 3, 2025 Editor

GLOFs Endanger Key Projects Like Pakal Dul, Kiru, and Ratle—Experts Warn of Climate-Driven Infrastructure Collapse By: Javid Amin | 03 Sep 2025 A Collision of Dreams and Disasters Jammu and Kashmir, with its mighty Himalayan rivers, has long been seen as India’s hydropower powerhouse. Projects like Kishanganga, Uri, and Salal have already lit up millions of homes, while mega-dams on the Chenab River—Pakal Dul, Kiru, Kwar, and Ratle— are under construction with an investment exceeding ₹22,000 crore. But beneath this promise lies a fragile foundation. As glaciers retreat and unstable…

Monsoon Mayhem: Jammu & Kashmir Drenched in Historic August Rainfall

September 2, 2025September 2, 2025 Editor

From Doda to Leh: Himalayan Districts Reel Under Record-Breaking Rain By: Javid Amin | 01 Sep 2025 A Monsoon Like No Other August 2025 will be remembered as the month when the skies unleashed unprecedented fury over the Himalayas. Jammu & Kashmir recorded 319.3 mm rainfall in August — a 73% surplus, the 6th wettest August since 1901. Ladakh, usually known for its arid cold desert, was drenched — a 930% surplus, with Kargil receiving 1,530% above normal rain. These are not just numbers. They mark a tectonic shift in…

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…