6th wettest August in 125 years at 73% excess rainfall
Srinagar, Sep 1: Jammu and Kashmir has endured the deadliest month, August, as the back-to-back natural calamities have led to the loss of over 100 lives across the region, experiencing over 30 extreme weather events during the last 31 days.
According to the details available, the region has experienced its sixth wettest August since 1901, with the region recording 319.3 mm of rainfall against the normal of 184.9 mm, marking an excess of 73% precipitation.
The month of August witnessed an alarming surge in extreme weather events across Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in over 100 deaths and damage to several properties.
Director Meteorological department (meT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, confirmed to KNO that more than 30 incidents of flash floods, cloudbursts, landslides, gusty winds, heavy rains and thunderstorms were recorded in the month of August, with at least 14 events leading to fatalities.
Among the deadliest events were Kishtwar cloudburst, claiming 65 lives and several others are still missing and Reasi landslide along the Vaishno Devi route, claiming 35 lives. Both incidents have claimed 100 lives.
Several other people lost their lives in different events, including in Katra, Ramban and other places, taking the toll up to over 100 in August.
The first major incident occurred on August 14, when a cloudburst struck Chesoti village in Kishtwar district. The bodies of 65 victims were recovered, while several others are still missing.
On August 17, a cloudburst hit Jodh Ghati and Janglote villages in Kathua district, killing seven people and injuring many.
On August 26, a massive landslide at Adhkwari cave temple, on the route to the Vaishno Devi shrine, claimed 35 lives and over 20 were injured.
Seven members of a family were among 12 people killed in Ramban and Reasi districts during the early hours of last Saturday due to a landslide and cloudburst on August 30.
The spate of extreme weather events has raised serious concerns over disaster preparedness and the impact of changing weather patterns in the region.
Experts attribute the surge in flash floods, cloudbursts, and landslides to increasingly erratic rainfall patterns linked to climate change.
Furthermore, J&K has experienced its sixth wettest August since 1901, with the region recording 319.3 mm of rainfall against the normal of 184.9 mm, marking an excess of 73% precipitation.
The highest-ever August rainfall was recorded in 1996 at 481.3 mm, followed by 345.8 mm in 1908, 343.0 mm in 2013, 336.5 mm in 1994, and 331.0 mm in 1955, an Independent Weather Forecaster, Faizan Arif Keng said.
This year, several districts in the Jammu region witnessed extreme rainfall departures. Doda topped the chart with 290% excess rainfall, receiving 488.2 mm against the normal 125.1 mm. It was followed by Udhampur (159% surplus, 897.9 mm), Ramban (133% surplus, 286.2 mm), and Samba (126% surplus, 720.5 mm).
Other major gains, according to him, were reported in Reasi (64%), Jammu (53%), Kathua (45%), Rajouri (42%), Kishtwar (21%), and Poonch (17%).
In Kashmir, rainfall patterns remained mixed. “Anantnag (35%), Pulwama (18%), Kulgam (13%), and Srinagar (15%) recorded above-normal rainfall, while other districts like Kupwara (-23%), Bandipora (-20%), Budgam (-1%), Baramulla (-2%), Ganderbal (-17%), and Shopian (-69% – data probably incorrect) experienced deficits,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ladakh recorded exceptional departures from normal. Kargil received 32.6 mm of rainfall against the normal 2 mm, a 1,530% surplus, while Leh registered 54.7 mm against the normal 5.6 mm, an 877% surplus. Overall, Ladakh UT recorded 49.5 mm of rainfall compared to the normal 4.8 mm, a massive 930% departure.
Pertinently, the Meteorological department (MeT) has issued a fresh weather advisory for Jammu and Kashmir, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts till September 03, raising the risk of flash floods, cloudbursts and landslides in vulnerable areas.
Ministerial teams to assess flood losses in J&K
Jammu Tawi, Sep 1: The Ministry of Home Affairs has set up Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) to evaluate the extent of damage caused by heavy rainfall, flash floods, landslides and cloudbursts in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab.
Officials said that each team will be headed by an officer of Joint Secretary rank from the Ministry of Home Affairs or the National Disaster Management Authority. The groups will also include members drawn from the departments of Expenditure, Agriculture And Farmers’ Welfare, Jal Shakti, Power, Road Transport And Highways, as well as Rural Development.
The teams are expected to carry out field visits to the affected districts and examine relief measures already in place by the state and Union Territory administrations. The findings will form the basis for further financial support from the Centre.
The decision follows a mechanism introduced by Home Minister Amit Shah in 2019, which requires the constitution of these multi-ministerial teams immediately after a major disaster, rather than waiting for a detailed memorandum from the affected states.
An official release from the Home Ministry noted that the Centre has transferred significant amounts under various disaster relief and mitigation funds during the current financial year. Figures show that Rs 10,498.80 crore has been released under the State Disaster Response Fund to 24 states.
In addition, Rs 1,988.91 crore was sanctioned from the National Disaster Response Fund for 12 states.
Under the State Disaster Mitigation Fund, Rs 3,274.90 crore has been distributed among 20 states, while Rs 372.09 crore has been disbursed from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund to nine states.
The Home Ministry said these allocations are intended to strengthen state-level capacity in handling relief, rehabilitation and mitigation work during the monsoon season, when extreme weather often leads to large-scale damage.
In Jammu and Kashmir, more than 150 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents since early August, with a significant number of casualties reported among pilgrims in different parts of the Union Territory. Search and rescue operations are still under way in several districts.
Officials stated that the IMCTs would visit Jammu and Kashmir and other affected states early next week to prepare detailed assessments. Their reports will guide further central intervention and allocation of resources for recovery efforts.
