At least eight major cloudburst or cloudburst-like incidents struck Jammu &amp; Kashmir and Ladakh within the last 24 hours as an active monsoon system unleashed intense, localised downpours across the region. The extreme weather triggered flash floods, landslides and mudslides, leaving two people dead while the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rescued more than 80 stranded residents.&nbsp;The sudden deluge sent torrents of water rushing through several districts, causing widespread destruction. Flash floods were reported from Keller, KathoHallan and Badrahama in Shopian, Haripora in Kangan, Bandipora, Pahalgam, Kupwara and the Sarbal area of Drass in Kargil. Floodwaters entered residential homes, damaged roads, washed away agricultural land, and destroyed paddy fields and orchards.&nbsp;Officials said some flooding was caused by overflowing local streams following hours of intense rainfall rather than confirmed cloudbursts, highlighting the challenge of distinguishing between cloudburst events and extremely heavy localised rain. Meanwhile, shooting stones and landslides along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway forced authorities to close the highway from both directions.&nbsp;This monsoon season has witnessed a marked increase in cloudburst and cloudburst-like incidents across Jammu &amp; Kashmir. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Srinagar Meteorological Centre recorded more than 27 such incidents during July 2026 in Jammu &amp; Kashmir alone, while several additional incidents occurred in Kargil and adjoining areas. Overall, around 36 cloudburst or cloudburst-like events have been reported across the region between early July and August 4.&nbsp;Ajaz Rasool, a climate expert, said cloudbursts, once considered rare, are now occurring with alarming frequency across Jammu, Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar and several districts of Kashmir. "Cloudbursts were once rare events. Today, they are occurring much more frequently, sometimes every few days in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Their intensity has also increased, causing severe damage to homes, roads and livelihoods. While cloudbursts cannot be prevented, better planning can reduce their impact. Water from these events should be channelled into storage basins wherever possible instead of allowing it to cause destruction."&nbsp;Rasool said the region has experienced clear signs of climate change over the past four to five decades, including rising temperatures, declining snowfall, prolonged dry spells followed by intense rainfall, droughts and changing weather patterns.&nbsp;He also stressed the importance of conserving wetlands, lakes, forests and river systems, saying healthy natural ecosystems help regulate temperatures, absorb excess water and reduce the impact of extreme weather.&nbsp;Meteorologists say monitoring these events remains extremely difficult because cloudbursts occur over very small geographical areas and develop rapidly, making precise forecasting nearly impossible. Most of these incidents have triggered flash floods and landslides, damaging homes, roads, bridges, orchards, agricultural land and other infrastructure. July also witnessed dozens of rain-related fatalities across the region.&nbsp;Meteorologists and climate scientists say the rise in cloudburst activity is being driven by a combination of climate change and the unique geography of the Himalayas. A warmer atmosphere now holds about 7 per cent more moisture for every 1°C rise in temperature, resulting in more intense short-duration rainfall. Faster warming across the western Himalayas, increased moisture from a warmer Arabian Sea, the interaction between monsoon winds and Western Disturbances, and orographic lifting over steep mountain terrain further intensify these extreme weather events. Experts also point to prolonged dry spells since 2024 followed by intense rainfall, along with deforestation and encroachment on floodplains and natural drainage channels, which have degraded wetlands and increased surface runoff. They say these combined factors have led to more frequent cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides and debris flows, causing growing losses of life and property, and warn that without stronger climate adaptation measures and global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the trend is likely to continue. &nbsp; Senior Scientist at the Meteorological Centre Srinagar, Parveen Kumar, said the department had already forecast unstable weather from August 1 to August 4. "We had forecast erratic weather across Jammu and Kashmir with torrential rainfall in the Pir Panjal and other hilly areas. These intense showers have triggered mudslides and landslides, and the wet spell is expected to continue until August 5. Widespread rainfall is likely today and tomorrow, with isolated heavy rainfall. Weather conditions are expected to improve after August 6, although another spell of rain is possible after August 8. Farmers should closely follow local weather advisories and avoid agricultural activities during periods of heavy rainfall." He added that intense rainfall in mountainous terrain often gets channelled into narrow valleys and streams, significantly increasing the risk of sudden flash floods. For people living near streams, rivers and steep mountain slopes, as well as farmers and those dependent on tourism, the growing frequency of these extreme weather events underscores the urgent need for better planning and adaptation. Increasingly, experts caution, these disasters should no longer be viewed as isolated acts of nature but as manifestations of a changing climate that demand long-term policy action and resilience planning.&nbsp;

Eight cloudburst-like events struck Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh within 24 hours, killing two, triggering widespread flash floods and landslides, and highlighting the region's escalating climate change vulnerabilities.

At least eight major cloudburst or cloudburst-like incidents struck Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh within the last 24 hours as an active monsoon system unleashed intense, localised downpours across the region. The extreme weather triggered flash floods, landslides and mudslides, leaving two people dead while the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rescued more than 80 stranded residents. The sudden deluge sent torrents of water rushing through several districts, causing widespread destruction. Flash floods were reported from Keller, KathoHallan and Badrahama in Shopian, Haripora in Kangan, Bandipora, Pahalgam, Kupwara and the Sarbal area of Drass in Kargil. Floodwaters entered residential homes, damaged roads, washed away agricultural land, and destroyed paddy fields and orchards. Officials said some flooding was caused by overflowing local streams following hours of intense rainfall rather than confirmed cloudbursts, highlighting the challenge of distinguishing between cloudburst events and extremely heavy localised rain. Meanwhile, shooting stones and landslides along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway forced authorities to close the highway from both directions. This monsoon season has witnessed a marked increase in cloudburst and cloudburst-like incidents across Jammu & Kashmir. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Srinagar Meteorological Centre recorded more than 27 such incidents during July 2026 in Jammu & Kashmir alone, while several additional incidents occurred in Kargil and adjoining areas. Overall, around 36 cloudburst or cloudburst-like events have been reported across the region between early July and August 4. Ajaz Rasool, a climate expert, said cloudbursts, once considered rare, are now occurring with alarming frequency across Jammu, Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar and several districts of Kashmir. "Cloudbursts were once rare events. Today, they are occurring much more frequently, sometimes every few days in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Their intensity has also increased, causing severe damage to homes, roads and livelihoods. While cloudbursts cannot be prevented, better planning can reduce their impact. Water from these events should be channelled into storage basins wherever possible instead of allowing it to cause destruction." Rasool said the region has experienced clear signs of climate change over the past four to five decades, including rising temperatures, declining snowfall, prolonged dry spells followed by intense rainfall, droughts and changing weather patterns. He also stressed the importance of conserving wetlands, lakes, forests and river systems, saying healthy natural ecosystems help regulate temperatures, absorb excess water and reduce the impact of extreme weather. Meteorologists say monitoring these events remains extremely difficult because cloudbursts occur over very small geographical areas and develop rapidly, making precise forecasting nearly impossible. Most of these incidents have triggered flash floods and landslides, damaging homes, roads, bridges, orchards, agricultural land and other infrastructure. July also witnessed dozens of rain-related fatalities across the region. Meteorologists and climate scientists say the rise in cloudburst activity is being driven by a combination of climate change and the unique geography of the Himalayas. A warmer atmosphere now holds about 7 per cent more moisture for every 1°C rise in temperature, resulting in more intense short-duration rainfall. Faster warming across the western Himalayas, increased moisture from a warmer Arabian Sea, the interaction between monsoon winds and Western Disturbances, and orographic lifting over steep mountain terrain further intensify these extreme weather events. Experts also point to prolonged dry spells since 2024 followed by intense rainfall, along with deforestation and encroachment on floodplains and natural drainage channels, which have degraded wetlands and increased surface runoff. They say these combined factors have led to more frequent cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides and debris flows, causing growing losses of life and property, and warn that without stronger climate adaptation measures and global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the trend is likely to continue. Senior Scientist at the Meteorological Centre Srinagar, Parveen Kumar, said the department had already forecast unstable weather from August 1 to August 4. "We had forecast erratic weather across Jammu and Kashmir with torrential rainfall in the Pir Panjal and other hilly areas. These intense showers have triggered mudslides and landslides, and the wet spell is expected to continue until August 5. Widespread rainfall is likely today and tomorrow, with isolated heavy rainfall. Weather conditions are expected to improve after August 6, although another spell of rain is possible after August 8. Farmers should closely follow local weather advisories and avoid agricultural activities during periods of heavy rainfall." He added that intense rainfall in mountainous terrain often gets channelled into narrow valleys and streams, significantly increasing the risk of sudden flash floods. For people living near streams, rivers and steep mountain slopes, as well as farmers and those dependent on tourism, the growing frequency of these extreme weather events underscores the urgent need for better planning and adaptation. Increasingly, experts caution, these disasters should no longer be viewed as isolated acts of nature but as manifestations of a changing climate that demand long-term policy action and resilience planning.

Eight cloudburst-like events struck Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh within 24 hours, killing two, triggering widespread flash floods and landslides, and highlighting the region's escalating climate change vulnerabilities.

Eight cloudbursts trigger flash floods across J&K and Ladakh in 24 hours

Heavy rain continued to batter several parts of India on Friday (Jul 31), triggering floods, flash floods and waterlogging across multiple states. While Assam's flood toll climbed further, Kerala witnessed sudden flooding after an intense spell of rainfall, Gujarat continued restoration work after days of torrential rain, and fresh flooding was reported in Odisha. A cloudburst also struck Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, while Himachal Pradesh remained under the grip of an active monsoon.<h2>Assam: Death toll reaches 80, over 1.92 lakh affected</h2>The flood situation in Assam remained serious, with the death toll rising to 80 after two more fatalities were reported, one each in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts.According to the Disaster Reporting and Information Management System (DRIMS), more than 1.92 lakh people have been affected across five districts, namely Sivasagar, Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon and Charaideo. Floodwaters have inundated 379 villages and damaged over 15,430 hectares of crop area. Officials said there were no reports of urban flooding in the state.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/assam-flood-toll-reaches-78-after-fresh-deaths-in-sivasagar-golaghat-over-3-lakh-people-affected-across-seven-districts-1785374750099">Assam flood toll reaches 78 after fresh deaths in Sivasagar, Golaghat; over 3 lakh people affected across seven districts</a>Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma thanked industrialist Gautam Adani for contributing Rs 11 crore to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, saying the amount would strengthen relief and rehabilitation efforts. Actor Kartik Aaryan has also contributed Rs 1 crore, while the Muslim Rashtriya Manch announced financial assistance for flood-hit communities.<h2>Kerala: Flash floods after 300 mm rain in just two hours</h2>Kerala witnessed one of its most intense spells of rainfall, with Pathanamthitta district receiving more than 300 mm of rain within two hours, triggering flash floods and causing the Pamba River to overflow.District Collector Nizamudeen A said rescue teams, including the police, fire force, revenue officials and panchayat authorities, were carrying out evacuation operations as a Red Alert remained in force.Several parts of Ranni town were submerged under waist-deep water. Local residents said people had been evacuated from their homes, but many could not remove their belongings before the floodwaters entered.The heavy rainfall also forced organisers of the Malabar River Festival in Kozhikode to suspend its white-water kayaking competitions after water levels in the Chalipuzha River rose sharply. Authorities relocated participants and equipment to safer locations following recommendations from Fire and Rescue Services.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Alert for Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta, while several other districts remain under an Orange Alert.<h2>Gujarat: Rescue operations continue as roads reopen</h2>In Gujarat's Valsad district, firefighters rescued three people stranded near the Auranga River after floodwaters surrounded the area around a bridge connecting the city with a nearby village. Officials said the rescue was launched immediately after a distress call and all three people were brought to safety.The state government said restoration work has progressed rapidly following the exceptionally heavy rainfall recorded between July 23 and 27. Of the 1,540 roads that were closed due to flooding and damage, 1,451 have already been reopened.South Gujarat bore the brunt of the rainfall, with 1,251 roads shut during the peak of the flooding. Officials said more than 98 per cent of those roads have since been restored after round-the-clock repair work involving over 1,400 personnel and hundreds of heavy machines.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/assam-flood-toll-rises-to-75-as-seven-drown-in-sivasagar-cm-himanta-announces-9-lakh-aid-for-victims-families-1785294377671">Assam flood toll rises; CM Himanta announces ₹9 lakh aid for victims' families</a><h2>Odisha: Villages inundated, opposition questions government's response</h2>Floodwaters entered Dokandar village under Kanas block in Odisha's Puri district, inundating homes and disrupting normal life.Residents said they were facing shortages of drinking water, food, electricity and other essential supplies as water entered residential areas. Villagers appealed for immediate relief while authorities said they were monitoring the situation and carrying out relief measures.The flood situation also triggered a political confrontation, with both the Biju Janata Dal and the Congress accusing the state government of inadequate preparedness and questioning Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's visit to Delhi while several districts remained affected.<h2>Jammu and Kashmir: Cloudburst damages shops in Kishtwar</h2>A cloudburst struck the Chatroo area of Kishtwar district early on Saturday, damaging several commercial establishments.Union Minister Jitendra Singh said there had been no loss of life and that compensation would be provided for damaged shops. He also said early warning systems had been installed in Kishtwar and Machhail following last year's Chasoti cloudburst, with an automatic weather station also being set up in the Padder area.<h2>Himachal Pradesh: Monsoon continues to disrupt normal life</h2>Intermittent rainfall continued across Himachal Pradesh, with Shimla witnessing persistent showers that attracted tourists but disrupted everyday life for residents.The IMD has forecast light to moderate rain across the state, with heavy rainfall likely at isolated places until August 4. It has warned of possible landslides, flash floods, waterlogging and slippery roads.Meanwhile, the Bhakra Beas Management Board released an additional 12,000 cusecs of water from the Pandoh Dam after increased inflows, taking total discharge into the Beas River to around 36,000 cusecs. Authorities have advised people to stay away from riverbanks as water levels could rise further.

Heavy rain continued to batter India as Assam's flood death toll rose to 80, Kerala witnessed flash floods after a 300 mm cloudburst-like downpour, and Gujarat, Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh grappled with flooding, rescue operations and weather alerts.

Heavy rain continued to batter several parts of India on Friday (Jul 31), triggering floods, flash floods and waterlogging across multiple states. While Assam's flood toll climbed further, Kerala witnessed sudden flooding after an intense spell of rainfall, Gujarat continued restoration work after days of torrential rain, and fresh flooding was reported in Odisha. A cloudburst also struck Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, while Himachal Pradesh remained under the grip of an active monsoon. Assam: Death toll reaches 80, over 1.92 lakh affected The flood situation in Assam remained serious, with the death toll rising to 80 after two more fatalities were reported, one each in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts. According to the Disaster Reporting and Information Management System (DRIMS), more than 1.92 lakh people have been affected across five districts, namely Sivasagar, Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon and Charaideo. Floodwaters have inundated 379 villages and damaged over 15,430 hectares of crop area. Officials said there were no reports of urban flooding in the state. Also read | Assam flood toll reaches 78 after fresh deaths in Sivasagar, Golaghat; over 3 lakh people affected across seven districts Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma thanked industrialist Gautam Adani for contributing Rs 11 crore to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, saying the amount would strengthen relief and rehabilitation efforts. Actor Kartik Aaryan has also contributed Rs 1 crore, while the Muslim Rashtriya Manch announced financial assistance for flood-hit communities. Kerala: Flash floods after 300 mm rain in just two hours Kerala witnessed one of its most intense spells of rainfall, with Pathanamthitta district receiving more than 300 mm of rain within two hours, triggering flash floods and causing the Pamba River to overflow. District Collector Nizamudeen A said rescue teams, including the police, fire force, revenue officials and panchayat authorities, were carrying out evacuation operations as a Red Alert remained in force. Several parts of Ranni town were submerged under waist-deep water. Local residents said people had been evacuated from their homes, but many could not remove their belongings before the floodwaters entered. The heavy rainfall also forced organisers of the Malabar River Festival in Kozhikode to suspend its white-water kayaking competitions after water levels in the Chalipuzha River rose sharply. Authorities relocated participants and equipment to safer locations following recommendations from Fire and Rescue Services. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Alert for Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta, while several other districts remain under an Orange Alert. Gujarat: Rescue operations continue as roads reopen In Gujarat's Valsad district, firefighters rescued three people stranded near the Auranga River after floodwaters surrounded the area around a bridge connecting the city with a nearby village. Officials said the rescue was launched immediately after a distress call and all three people were brought to safety. The state government said restoration work has progressed rapidly following the exceptionally heavy rainfall recorded between July 23 and 27. Of the 1,540 roads that were closed due to flooding and damage, 1,451 have already been reopened. South Gujarat bore the brunt of the rainfall, with 1,251 roads shut during the peak of the flooding. Officials said more than 98 per cent of those roads have since been restored after round-the-clock repair work involving over 1,400 personnel and hundreds of heavy machines. Also read | Assam flood toll rises; CM Himanta announces ₹9 lakh aid for victims' families Odisha: Villages inundated, opposition questions government's response Floodwaters entered Dokandar village under Kanas block in Odisha's Puri district, inundating homes and disrupting normal life. Residents said they were facing shortages of drinking water, food, electricity and other essential supplies as water entered residential areas. Villagers appealed for immediate relief while authorities said they were monitoring the situation and carrying out relief measures. The flood situation also triggered a political confrontation, with both the Biju Janata Dal and the Congress accusing the state government of inadequate preparedness and questioning Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's visit to Delhi while several districts remained affected. Jammu and Kashmir: Cloudburst damages shops in Kishtwar A cloudburst struck the Chatroo area of Kishtwar district early on Saturday, damaging several commercial establishments. Union Minister Jitendra Singh said there had been no loss of life and that compensation would be provided for damaged shops. He also said early warning systems had been installed in Kishtwar and Machhail following last year's Chasoti cloudburst, with an automatic weather station also being set up in the Padder area. Himachal Pradesh: Monsoon continues to disrupt normal life Intermittent rainfall continued across Himachal Pradesh, with Shimla witnessing persistent showers that attracted tourists but disrupted everyday life for residents. The IMD has forecast light to moderate rain across the state, with heavy rainfall likely at isolated places until August 4. It has warned of possible landslides, flash floods, waterlogging and slippery roads. Meanwhile, the Bhakra Beas Management Board released an additional 12,000 cusecs of water from the Pandoh Dam after increased inflows, taking total discharge into the Beas River to around 36,000 cusecs. Authorities have advised people to stay away from riverbanks as water levels could rise further.

Heavy rain continued to batter India as Assam's flood death toll rose to 80, Kerala witnessed flash floods after a 300 mm cloudburst-like downpour, and Gujarat, Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh grappled with flooding, rescue operations and weather alerts.

India floods: Death toll rises in Assam; Kerala, Gujarat and Odisha battle heavy rain

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Eight cloudbursts trigger flash floods across J&K and Ladakh in 24 hours

Floods, cloudbursts & rising rivers: Monsoon chaos grips multiple Indian states