Ganderbal: A devastating cloudburst struck the Cherwan Kangan area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Sunday, inflicting significant damage to paddy fields and causing widespread disruption.
Visuals from the scene reveal vehicles stranded in debris and waterlogged houses, impeding movement in the area. The flooding led to the blockage of the SSG Road near Padawbal as a nearby canal overflowed. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far.
The monsoon season has unleashed severe weather events across several Indian states, resulting in flash floods and landslides. States such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Kerala have been particularly hard-hit. The toll has been catastrophic, with over 300 lives lost in Kerala alone, 15 fatalities in Uttarakhand, and 47 people reported missing in Himachal Pradesh following heavy rains and subsequent natural disasters.
Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh noted on Saturday that approximately 50 people are feared dead in the affected areas, with the official death toll pending confirmation upon the completion of rescue operations. The impact has been severe, necessitating the intervention of multiple rescue teams.
In Uttarakhand, the situation remains dire after a cloudburst and landslides along the Kedarnath Yatra route claimed 15 lives. Rescue and relief operations are underway, with teams from the Indian Air Force joining the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to aid stranded pilgrims.
