Srinagar, July 21: A powerful flash flood triggered by what officials suspect was a cloudburst over the Tosa Maidan catchment left one person dead and caused widespread destruction in Beerwah and Khag areas of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Tuesday, sweeping away shops, damaging a bridge and destroying flood protection structures.
The deceased has been identified as Shabir Ahmad Poswal, a resident of Drang village in Khag, who was swept away by a swollen stream during the sudden deluge.
Officials said the Beerwah rainfall observatory recorded nearly 38 mm of precipitation, while rainfall in the upper catchment—particularly the Tosa Maidan region—is estimated to have crossed 100 mm, triggering a massive surge in the Sukhnag River.
Meteorological assessments indicated that an exceptionally intense spell of rainfall developed over the Tosa Maidan catchment, the origin of the Sukhnag River, during the afternoon. The heavy downpour generated enormous runoff, causing the river to swell rapidly and unleash flash floods across downstream areas.
The Sukhnag flows through Arizal, Zanigam, Sail, Beerwah, Rathsun, Makhama, Kawoosa and Narbal, making these areas particularly vulnerable to flash flooding whenever intense rainfall occurs in the upper reaches.
Beerwah bore the brunt of the disaster, with floodwaters submerging markets and residential areas. The Municipal Shopping Complex near the Beerwah bus stand sustained major damage, while dozens of shops were either washed away or badly affected. Traders scrambled to rescue goods as water entered commercial establishments.
Public infrastructure suffered heavy damage as well. The Sukhnag Diversion at Beerwah was washed away, several flood protection embankments were damaged, and a newly constructed bridge suffered structural damage under the force of the floodwaters.
While the water level later receded by nearly three feet, officials observed that the unusually rapid rise in the river strongly suggested a cloudburst-like event or extremely intense localized rainfall over the upper catchment.
Independent weather forecaster Faizan Altaf told Kashmir Convener that an intense spell of rain developed over the Tosa Maidan area during the late afternoon.
“The Sukhnag flows through Arizal, Zanigal, Sail, Beerwah, Rathsun, Makhama, Kawoosa and Narbal before joining downstream channels,” he said. “Weather radars consistently detected a very intense and persistent rain band over the Tosa Maidan catchment. As the heavy rainfall continued for a couple of hours, enormous volumes of runoff rapidly fed into the Sukhnag, triggering a sharp and sudden rise in water levels downstream.”
According to some locals, the flood situation in parts of Beerwah is being described as worse than the devastating 2014 floods, causing significant damage to infrastructure and property.
“This event highlights how intense rainfall over a river’s upper catchment can trigger flash flooding downstream within a short span of time, even if heavy rain is not occurring in the affected areas themselves,” he added.
The Budgam flash flood comes amid a larger disaster unfolding across the Jammu region. A mother and her two minor children were among seven persons feared dead after a massive flash flood and landslide struck Domail Dhok Nandichool in the Loran area of Poonch district on Monday, officials said. Three days of relentless rain have pushed the death toll in the Jammu region to 26, while many others remain missing.
An official told Kashmir Convener that rainfall continues in Rajouri, making restoration of essential services increasingly difficult.
The meteorological department has warned that a Western Disturbance and active monsoon are expected to peak over the next 36 hours. Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected across Jammu & Kashmir, with extremely heavy rain likely at several places from late Tuesday or Wednesday morning onwards.
Flash floods, landslides and cloudburst-like incidents are likely to persist during the next 24-36 hours, officials said.
“People are advised to avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from rivers, streams and other vulnerable areas. Stay alert and stay safe,” a meteorological department official said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed profound grief and anguish over the tragic loss of seven lives in the landslide at Domail Dhok in the Nandichool area of Loran, Poonch district. He conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace for the departed souls.
“The tragic incident has caused immense sorrow,” the Chief Minister said, expressing solidarity with the affected families in this hour of grief. He prayed for strength and courage to the bereaved families to bear the irreparable loss.
As an immediate measure of support, Abdullah announced an ex gratia relief of ₹6 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased—comprising ₹4 lakh from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and ₹2 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF).
To ensure close supervision of relief and rehabilitation measures, the Chief Minister has deputed Ministers Javed Ahmed Rana and Satish Sharma to visit the affected areas in Rajouri and Poonch. The Ministers will assess the ground situation, oversee ongoing relief efforts and ensure that all necessary assistance reaches the affected families without delay.
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