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MeT had put J&K on alert for heavy monsoon rains, but with only distant Automatic Weather Stations in Kishtwar area, the exact rain that fell over the affected village is unknown
The site of the flash floods in Kishtwar. (Image: News18)
After Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, the Jammu region is now on high alert following intense monsoon rains that triggered a devastating flash flood in Kishtwar, killing over 40 people, with the death toll expected to increase.
Situated in the higher reaches, the exact rainfall in the area is still unknown, according to the weather department. “It is difficult to confirm if it was a cloudburst, as the affected village is situated at a high altitude. We have only two Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) in this area, one of which is in Kishtwar town, far from the affected village. Both recorded less than 3 mm of rain on Thursday,” said a senior meteorologist from IMD Srinagar.
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What is a cloudburst?
The India Meteorological Department declares a cloudburst when, typically, 100 mm of rain falls over a very small area in a very short time, generally an hour. A similar disaster struck Uttarkashi on August 5, triggering catastrophic flash floods that wiped out much of the high-altitude Dharali village in Uttarakhand. With the rescue operation also hit by rain, the death toll there is still climbing.
Jammu remained under a red warning throughout Thursday, with persistent rainfall continuing across various places in the region. As per the latest forecast, rains are expected to continue for another two days at least, with the possibility of intermittent intense showers.
Forecasters warn that such intense showers can trigger flash floods and landslides, as the region is highly vulnerable. “We have issued alerts for all districts in the Jammu division, including Reasi, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, and Ramban,” the weather department stated, urging people to stay away from water bodies and river embankments.
Excess monsoon this season
Most of India, except parts of the Northeast, has experienced normal to excess rainfall this monsoon season, with zero deficit persisting nationwide as of August 14. The rainfall over northwest India has so far been 15% above the long-period average (LPA) with intense spells of rain recorded over the past few weeks, triggering a spate of disasters in the vulnerable Himalayan states.
The heavy rains in the Himalayan states caused a worsening of the floods downstream in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with several rivers overflowing. According to IMD, this was largely because the monsoon trough was north of its normal position, which brings excess rains in the foothills of the Himalayas, as well as due to a western disturbance hitting the region.
Scientists also point to the trend of increasing monsoon extremes, with short bursts of intense rainfall becoming far more frequent and severe in recent years, triggering flash floods and landslides. The Himalayan region’s vulnerability stems not only from its rugged topography and fragile geography but also from the escalating construction activities that are eroding the critical forest cover.
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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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