Kishtwar Cloudburst Leaves Shops Damaged, No Casualties
A cloudburst hit the Chatroo area of Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir in the early hours of Saturday, damaging several commercial outlets and shops. Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed that no loss of life has been reported so far.
Singh, who holds the Earth Sciences and Prime Minister's Office portfolios, said he telephoned Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma shortly after receiving reports of the cloudburst. In a post on X, the minister wrote: "Just now spoke to DC Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma, after receiving the reports of cloudburst in the Chhatroo area early this morning. No loss of life reported. Some commercial outlets/shops are damaged for which due compensation will be provided."
The cloudburst is the latest in a series of extreme weather events to hit the Himalayan region. Last year, a similar event at Chasoti in the same district caused significant damage, prompting the Ministry of Earth Sciences to install two latest 'Early Warning Systems' (EWS) in Kishtwar and Machhail. An 'Automatic Weather Station' (AWS) is also being set up in Padder, Singh said.
"To reassure the local residents, it is important to inform that after the experience of the last year's Chasoti cloudburst, the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, has installed two latest 'Early Warning Systems' (EWS) in Kishtwar and Machhail respectively," he said. The systems are intended to detect sudden changes in weather and issue timely alerts, helping authorities and communities prepare for such events.
In a separate incident on July 19, heavy rainfall and a cloudburst triggered massive landslides in Rajouri district, severely damaging the Thannamandi-DKG-Bufliaz Road. The road, a significant project of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), serves as a crucial connection between the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch and the Kashmir Valley. It is also of strategic importance for the movement of security forces and supplies to forward areas.
The landslides and resultant flash floods washed away several stretches of the newly constructed road, culverts, and large trees at multiple points between Thannamandi and Bufliaz. Traffic has been diverted through the BG (Bimber Gali) route, and the road has been closed for over 13 days, affecting local commuters and transport of essential goods.
The repeated cloudbursts underscore the vulnerability of Jammu and Kashmir's mountainous terrain to such hydro-meteorological events. The installation of early warning systems, including the newly deployed EWS and AWS, is part of the central government's efforts to improve disaster risk reduction. Kishtwar district, situated in the mountainous Chenab Valley, is prone to cloudbursts and flash floods, as recent events have shown.
In response to the latest incident, the administration is assessing the damage and has been directed to ensure quick disbursement of compensation to the affected shop owners. Authorities have also urged residents to remain alert and follow precautions during the monsoon season, when such events are more frequent.
