Heavy rain aided by two cloudbursts struck South Kashmir’s Anantnag late on Saturday evening, triggering flash floods in Pahalgam and Shangus and damaging public property and agricultural land, while gushes of water along with debris entered huts and hotels, officials confirmed on Sunday.
As per sources, the first cloudburst hit the upper areas of Shangus, making the nearby Aaripath stream swell. Flash floods accompanied by rocks, mud, and silt entered agricultural land and several orchards and affected residential areas, they said.
The second cloudburst occurred at Overa Wildlife Sanctuary in the Pahalgam area, again making the Overa Nallah swell with a massive surge in water levels. The floodwater then entered huts and hotels, triggering panic and alarm in the area. Officials said that there were no reports of any casualties so far, and those who had arrived as tourists were also safe.
Meanwhile, authorities in South Kashmir have been put on high alert as rain and storms are likely to continue in the region over the next few days.
Overall, Jammu and Kashmir has been struck by over a dozen cloudbursts in the past two months, leading to damage to crops, agricultural produce, residential areas, and public and private properties.
Besides, an advisory is already in place which urges the public and tourists to avoid going to areas prone to cloudbursts and to stay away from fast-moving river streams as water levels witness a sudden rise after every rainfall.
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