Hilal Ahmad Bhat
Recent Intense monsoon systems have triggered many cloudbursts, severe landslides, and sudden flash floods across Jammu & Kashmir. These extreme downpours because of active monsoon systems have caused dozens of fatalities, swept away homes, and severely disrupted regional connectivity. A cloudburst is an extreme meteorological phenomenon involving a sudden, heavy downpour concentrated over a short duration and a small geographic area. It is an extremely intense spell of rainfall over a small geographical area within a short period, typically involving more than 100 mm of rain in one hour over an area of about 20–30 square kilometers. Such intense rainfall often overwhelms the drainage capacity of the region, leading to flash floods, landslides, and widespread destruction.
Cloudbursts are very difficult to forecast. Meteorologists can usually say whether a region is at risk of heavy rain but cannot say precisely which patch of land will experience a cloudburst. A cloudburst can also be accompanied by hail and thunder. Cloudbursts are common in mountainous areas, especially in the Himalayas. Due to their localised nature, cloudbursts are hard to predict or detect but can unleash sudden, devastating rainfall, leading to flash floods and landslides. Cloudbursts result from a combination of atmospheric, geographic, and thermodynamic factors that together allow a huge volume of moisture to build up and then release suddenly. . This extreme water flow quickly fills mountain soils and valleys, triggering violent flash floods and massive landslides. Major Dangers Cloudbursts can cause:
Fast Floods: Small streams turn into giant rivers of mud and rocks within minutes.
Blocked Roads: Mud and boulders block vital mountain highways and cut off remote villages.
Loss of Life, Property: Rushing debris can sweep away buildings, vehicles, and people.
“Act immediately during heavy rain or rising water without waiting for official warnings. Avoid hazards like storm drains, ditches, and flooded ravines. Avoid walking through moving water—six inches can knock you down—and never drive through flooded roads; turn around and take an alternate route.”
Landslide: It is the downward movement of rock, soil, or debris on a slope due to gravity. It is a form of mass wasting, where earth materials move down a slope under the influence of gravity. It can happen suddenly or move slowly over long periods of time. There are many types of landslides with varying sizes, shapes, movement speeds, and characteristics. Landslides are categorised by the type of movement involved, including falls, topples, slides and flows and each often cause the same negative effects on their surroundings. In our valley, landslide can happen in hilly areas and can block roads at foothills.Landslides adversely affect movement of people. They cause loss of life as well. It has happened in recent landslides in Rajouri, Kishtiwar and many other parts of J&K.
Protection: In order to protect ourselves from cloudbursts and flash floods, we need to Stay alert for sudden rising water, avoid walking or driving through floodwaters, and follow official evacuation warnings from local disaster management authorities.
During A Cloudburst Or Flash- Flood: Move uphill or to higher ground right away. Do not wait for an official warning if you see heavy rain or rising water.
Stay away from storm drains, ditches, and flooded ravines. Never walk through moving water; just six inches of fast water can knock you down. Do not drive into flooded roads; turn around and find another way.
(The author is a teacher at Govt High School Brakpora Anantnag. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
