CM Omar Reviews Trail of Storm Destruction
Srinagar: After weeks of anxious skies and whispered prayers, the long wait for rain finally ended over Srinagar this week. The prolonged dry spell that had unsettled farmers, residents and authorities alike gave way to steady showers, bringing relief to a Valley that had begun to fear another season of water stress.
For many, the rain felt almost symbolic—an answer to collective prayers offered in mosques and shrines, where special supplications had been held in recent days seeking mercy from the skies.
But The Relief Was Short-Lived: As the night deepened, the rain intensified and was soon joined by violent gusty winds that swept through Srinagar with alarming force. What began as a moment of gratitude soon turned into hours of fear, destruction and uncertainty. While north and south Kashmir districts witnessed much-awaited snowfall, the plains of Srinagar bore the brunt of heavy rainfall and high-velocity winds, leaving behind a trail of uprooted trees, damaged rooftops, snapped power lines, flooded streets and a city struggling in darkness and water.
A Night Of Chaos, Fear: Residents across Srinagar described the storm as one of the most frightening nights in recent memory. From the scenic Boulevard Road along Dal Lake to the narrow alleys of downtown Srinagar, the winds howled through neighbourhoods, snapping branches and tearing apart rooftops. Along the Boulevard, a massive tree crashed onto the roadside, blocking traffic and forcing early-morning commuters to take detours. Similar scenes unfolded in Rajbagh and uptown Srinagar, where fallen trees damaged boundary walls and partially crushed rooftops. In Hazratbal, Karan Nagar and Lawaypora, metal roofing sheets lay strewn across roads and courtyards, while several houses suffered structural damage. Near the historic Ghanta Ghar in the city centre, rooftops were ripped apart, their sheets flung onto adjoining buildings and lanes, narrowly missing pedestrians and vehicles. Manzoor Ahmad, a resident of Saida Kadal, recalled a night of terror. “We heard a loud roar, and suddenly the roof was gone. I was with my daughters. We kept scooping out water the whole night, fearing the walls might collapse. There was no shelter above us,” he said. In Lawaypora, the roof of a double-storeyed house was partially blown away, exposing rooms to relentless rain. Similar accounts emerged from several neighbourhoods, where families spent sleepless hours battling water seepage and structural damage.
Power Network On The Brink: As the winds uprooted trees and toppled electric poles, the power network across Kashmir collapsed almost simultaneously. Large parts of Srinagar plunged into darkness as several 11 kV feeders were disrupted. Residents in Hawal, Bemina, Hazratbal and many uptown areas woke up to a powerless morning, with electricity cut off late at night and yet to be restored in several pockets. According to the Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL), the power demand in the Valley witnessed an unprecedented decline, dropping to just 93 MW around 10:00 PM on the intervening night of January 22 and 23, compared to the normal average load of about 1650 MW. “The network was live until 10:00 PM when the load abruptly crashed due to faults and damage in various 33 kV and 11 kV feeders caused by high-speed gusty winds,” KPDCL said in an official statement. “Rooftops blown off by the storm smashed onto power lines, severely damaging the infrastructure and complicating restoration efforts.” At the sub-transmission level, 103 out of 135 33 kV lines went down, leaving only around 24 percent of the network functional. At the distribution level, 1275 out of 1302 11 kV feeders were under fault by morning. Restoration work began in the early hours following established protocols. By Friday evening, nearly 80 percent of the network had been restored, and a load of 1050 MW was recorded, with priority given to hospitals, water supply systems and other essential services.
Waterlogging Across Srinagar: The storm exposed the vulnerabilities of Srinagar’s drainage system as intense rainfall overwhelmed drains and canals, leading to widespread waterlogging. Ankle-deep water accumulated in Batmaloo, the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) area and several downtown localities, turning roads into murky channels. In the city centre, pedestrians waded through flooded streets, clinging to one another for support. Around SMHS Hospital, attendants and patients struggled to cross waterlogged patches near entry points and medical stores. “My father had to be taken for tests, but we were stuck outside because the water was too deep,” said an attendant. In Tailbal, residents reported erratic water supply following the storm and urged authorities to restore services at the earliest.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo said the administration swung into action as reports of damage poured in overnight.
“Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), KPDCL and Police were deployed immediately to clear fallen trees, reopen roads and restore power,” he said. “Mobile dewatering pumps were pressed into service in waterlogged localities. Most main roads have been cleared and major feeders restored. A detailed assessment of damages will be carried out.”
Snowfall Disrupts Life Across Kashmir: While Srinagar struggled with rain and winds, several districts of north and south Kashmir experienced heavy snowfall, particularly in higher reaches. The electrical infrastructure in Shopian, Kulgam, Baramulla and Budgam was badly affected. According to KPDCL, around 4.5 feet of snow in high-altitude areas severely hampered restoration work as vehicular movement remained restricted. Major affected areas included DH Pora, Kund, Malwan and Branel-Lammar in Kulgam; Sedow, Reshnagri, Herpora, Kaprain and Kuchdora in Shopian; and Khansahib, Beerwa, Doodhpathri and Yousmarg in Budgam. The damage of a transmission tower at Sheeri in the Delina–LJHP 132 kV transmission line further hindered restoration. The Jammu and Kashmir Power Transmission Corporation Limited (JKPTCL) initiated emergency measures by erecting an Emergency Restoration System (ERS). KPDCL said men and machinery had been mobilised across affected areas and restoration work was being carried out on a war footing.
Jammu Division Also Hit: In the Jammu Division, incessant rainfall and snowfall triggered disruptions in the power network. According to the Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL), power demand dropped to 140 MW around 4:00 AM, compared to the normal average load of about 1150 MW. Following sustained restoration efforts, the running load was progressively enhanced to 891 MW. At the sub-transmission level, 161 out of 181 66/33 kV lines were restored, while at the distribution level, 740 out of 1373 11 kV feeders were brought back into service. However, restoration remained constrained in remote and hilly areas due to inaccessibility caused by snow and rain. Major affected areas included parts of Poonch, Rajouri, Kathua, Doda, Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Kishtwar and Samba districts.
CM Reviews Situation, Seeks Priority Restoration: Amid the unfolding crisis, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday evening chaired a high-level meeting at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar to review the overall situation across Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting was attended by Minister Satish Sharma; Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta; Additional Chief Secretary, R&B, Anil Kumar Singh; IGP Kashmir V.K. Birdi; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg; Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo; Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation Faz Lul Haseeb; heads of various departments and other senior officers. Divisional Commissioner Jammu and all Deputy Commissioners from the Kashmir Valley and Jammu Division participated through virtual mode. The Chief Minister took a detailed assessment of the impact caused by heavy snowfall, rainfall and strong winds since Thursday evening. Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu briefed him on the prevailing ground situation and the progress of restoration efforts, followed by district-wise reports from Deputy Commissioners on the status of essential services, including electricity supply, drinking water, road connectivity and other basic facilities. Appreciating the swift response of the Divisional and District Administrations in minimising public inconvenience, Omar Abdullah directed them to maintain the same level of preparedness and coordination in view of the prevailing weather advisory. “Focused attention should continue on restoration of power and clearing of roads at the earliest to avoid public hardship,” the Chief Minister said, stressing that road connectivity and electricity supply must be restored on priority. He also sought regular updates on restoration measures to ensure seamless delivery of public services and directed authorities to carry out a timely assessment of damages so that affected families could be provided immediate assistance.
Between Relief, Ruin: For Kashmir, the storm was a stark reminder of nature’s dual face. For farmers and orchardists, the rain and snowfall brought hope—replenishing water sources and promising better soil moisture. For urban residents, however, the same weather brought fear, damage and disruption. As Srinagar slowly returned to normalcy on Friday, the scars of the storm were visible everywhere—broken trees, torn rooftops, flooded streets and flickering lights. Municipal workers cleared debris, power engineers worked on damaged lines, and rescue teams responded to distress calls from affected families. Yet, amid the chaos, resilience shone through. Neighbours helped one another repair rooftops and clear fallen trees, while officials and volunteers worked through the night to restore essential services. As rain washed over the plains and snow blanketed the mountains, Kashmir stood once again at the crossroads of relief and ruin, grateful for the mercy of the skies, yet struggling with the cost it had brought in its wake.
