- Man Killed After Tree Falls On Couple In Anantnag; Woman Dies In Lightning Strike In Doda
- Cloudbursts Trigger Flooding In Kishtwar; LG Monitoring Situation
Srinagar- Severe weather conditions swept across Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, claiming two lives, triggering flash floods and road blockades, and causing extensive damage to crops and orchards in several districts.
A man was killed and his wife critically injured after a tree uprooted by strong winds fell on them near the Janglat Mandi-Lal Chowk road in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Rafiq Kujwal of Utross. His wife was shifted to a hospital, where her condition was stated to be critical.
In Doda district, a woman identified as Pinki Devi of Khuddhar died after being struck by lightning during the evening.
Meanwhile, three cloudbursts and heavy rainfall triggered flash floods in parts of Doda and Kishtwar districts.
Officials said a cloudburst in Bandekhra Nalla near Thathri town in Doda sent debris into parts of the local market area. No casualties were reported.
In Kishtwar, separate cloudbursts struck the Gahan and Machhipal areas, leading to flash floods and road blockades. Authorities said there was no loss of life or damage to property, and restoration work was launched immediately.
Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Sharma said the cloudburst in a forest area triggered flash floods accompanied by heavy debris flow, affecting the Vrikshshala-Trofik stretch, Vrikshshala Zero Point, Machhipal, Saroor and the Sarthal village road.
“A large amount of debris has been deposited on the road and water has entered areas around residential settlements,” Sharma told reporters.
He said teams from various departments, including the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), were rushed to the affected areas. JCB machines and equipment under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) were deployed to clear debris and restore connectivity.
The deputy commissioner said the cloudburst occurred along the ridge between Drabshalla and Gujjuwa, resulting in flash floods that affected several roads, including the Drabshalla Zero Point, Suru-Sarthal, Gahan and Machhipal routes.
Restoration work was underway and the main highway up to Drabshalla had already been cleared, he said, adding that efforts were continuing to reopen the stretch beyond Drabshalla towards Fatri.
Sharma warned that ongoing rainfall could trigger further weather-related incidents and urged people not to gather near nallahs, streams and other water bodies.
“Cloudbursts have become a recurring phenomenon over the past few years and people should avoid water bodies as such incidents can occur at any time,” he said.
The district administration also issued a weather advisory warning of light to moderate rainfall and the possibility of flash floods in vulnerable areas. Residents, particularly those living near riverbanks and water channels, were advised to remain alert.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he spoke to the deputy commissioner immediately after receiving information about the incidents. Citing field reports, he said no casualties, injuries or property damage had been reported.
Later, Singh said Additional Deputy Commissioner Pawan Kotwal had confirmed that there was no loss of life or property. Teams from the District Red Cross, Police and Revenue Department had been dispatched to assess the affected sites, while machinery had been pressed into service to clear blocked roads.
The administration has activated its round-the-clock control room and directed all line departments and field officers to remain on alert and respond promptly to any emergency.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said he was closely monitoring the situation and had spoken to the deputy commissioners of Doda and Kishtwar.
In a post on X, Sinha said emergency response teams had been directed to remain on high alert while district administrations had been asked to expedite the restoration of roads, highways and water supply infrastructure. He also conveyed condolences to the family of Pinki Devi and directed officials to provide immediate relief and assistance.
The weather also disrupted normal life across several parts of Kashmir, where hailstorms accompanied by heavy rain damaged standing crops, vegetables and fruit orchards.
Areas in Shopian, Pulwama, Kupwara, Ganderbal and Tral reported hailstorms, with farmers expressing concern over losses to orchards and agricultural fields.
Bandipora MLA Nizamuddin Bhat urged the government to conduct an immediate assessment of the damage and provide compensation to affected growers and farmers. He said villages such as Bonakoot in Bandipora had suffered substantial losses to crops and fruit orchards.
The spell of rain followed an unusually hot day across Kashmir. According to the Meteorological Department, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 30.7 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 19.2 degrees Celsius, the season’s highest night temperature so far.
Other stations also recorded above-normal temperatures, with Qazigund at 29°C, Kokernag at 29.4°C, Kupwara at 27.8°C and Jammu city at 37.7°C.
The Meteorological Department has advised people living in vulnerable areas to remain alert, warning of the possibility of further rainfall, thunderstorms and localized flash floods in the coming days.
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