Man killed in Anantnag, woman dies in Doda; crops ravaged as rain, hailstorms lash J&K
JAMMU, June 2 : As hailstorms, intense rainfall and gusty winds caused widespread damage to crops and orchards across several parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, a man was killed and his wife critically injured after a tree fell on them in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, while a woman died in lightning strike in Doda district.
According to the details an ageing tree collapsed and fell on a couple near the Janglat Mandi-Lal Chowk road in Anantnag amid strong winds. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Rafiq Kujwal of Utross. The condition of his wife remains critical and is undergoing treatment.
A woman identified as Pinki Devi from Khuddhar Doda died after a lightning struck the area this evening.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is closely monitoring the situation that has arisen due to the flash floods caused by heavy rainfall in Kishtwar and Doda.
The Lieutenant Governor has posted on X: “Spoke with Deputy Commissioners of Kishtwar & Doda regarding the flash floods caused by heavy rainfall. Fortunately, no loss of life or property damage has been reported. Emergency response teams have been directed to remain on high alert and continuously monitor the situation.
I’ve directed both the DCs of Kishtwar and Doda to swiftly restore roads, highways, and water pipelines. Field staff and specialized medical teams are on high alert, and damage assessments will begin as soon as field verification is complete. My sincere condolences to the bereaved family of Pinki Devi from Khuddhar Doda, who tragically passed away due to a lightning strike. The Deputy Commissioner of Doda has been directed to provide immediate relief and assistance to the family.”
Reports aid that a cloudburst in Bandekhra Nalla near Thathri town in Doda district triggered flash floods, with debris entering parts of the local market area, officials said. No casualties were reported.
Two separate cloudbursts were also reported from the Ghan and Machipal areas of Kishtwar district. Authorities said there was no loss of life or damage to property in either incident, and the situation remained under control.
Meanwhile, the inclement weather conditions disrupted normal life in several parts of Kashmir as hailstorms accompanied by heavy showers battered agricultural areas, raising concerns among farmers over extensive damage to standing crops, vegetables and fruit orchards.
Severe hailstorms struck parts of Shopian and Pulwama districts on Friday, affecting areas including Uthmullah, Rahmoo, Sindo Shirmal, Balpora, Memandar, Shamshipora and Ramnagri. Similar weather activity was also reported from Kupwara district in north Kashmir.
Two cloudbursts struck Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Tuesday, triggering flash floods and road blockades in several areas, officials said.
The cloudbursts occurred in Sarthal’s Gahan area and Machhipal, prompting the district administration to launch restoration operations, deploy machinery for road clearance and issue a weather advisory warning residents against venturing near vulnerable water bodies.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he spoke to Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Sharma immediately after receiving information about the incidents.
“Two cloudburst incidents were reported in district Kishtwar today. The first occurred in the Gahan area of Sarthal, while the second was reported from Machhipal,” Singh said in a post on X.
According to immediate field reports, there were no casualties, injuries or damage to property at either location, he said.
Deputy Commissioner Sharma told reporters in Kishtwar that a cloudburst in a forest area triggered flash floods accompanied by heavy debris flow, affecting the Vrikshshala-Trofik stretch, Vrikshshala Zero Point, Machhipal, Saroor area and particularly the Sarthal village road.
“A large amount of debris has been deposited on the road and water has entered areas around residential settlements,” Sharma said.
He said teams from various departments, including the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Lt (NHIDCL), were rushed to the affected areas, while JCB machines and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) equipment were deployed to restore connectivity and clear debris.
While no loss of life or property had been reported so far, Sharma cautioned that continuing rainfall could trigger further weather-related incidents.
“We are repeatedly requesting people not to gather near nallahs, streams or other water bodies. Cloudbursts have become a recurring phenomenon over the past few years and people should avoid water bodies as such incidents can occur at any time,” he said.
The DC said the cloudburst occurred along the ridge between Drabshalla and Gujjuwa, resulting in flash floods that affected roads including the Drabshalla Zero Point, Suru-Sarthal, Gahan and Machhipal routes.
Restoration work had already begun and the main highway up to Drabshalla had been cleared, he said, adding that authorities were coordinating with the general manager of NHIDCL in Doda to clear the stretch beyond Drabshalla towards Fatri.
Meanwhile, the district administration issued a weather advisory warning of light to moderate rainfall and the possibility of flash floods near riverbanks, nallahs and other vulnerable locations.
Residents, particularly those living near water bodies and loose structures, were urged to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions until weather conditions improve.
All line departments, including Revenue, PWD, PMGSY, Jal Shakti, Health, Irrigation and Flood Control, NHIDCL, BRO and power utilities, have been directed to remain on alert and keep field staff ready to provide immediate assistance if required, the administration said.
The administration has also activated its 24×7 district control room and directed all tehsildars to immediately report any weather-related damage to life or property.
Later, Union minister Singh said Additional Deputy Commissioner Pawan Kotwal had confirmed that no loss of life or property had been reported.
Teams from the District Red Cross, Police and Revenue Department had been dispatched to assess the affected sites, he added.
Reports of road blockades had been received and men and machinery had been pressed into service to reopen the affected roads at the earliest, the minister said.
Officials from the Revenue, Disaster Management, Police and other departments remain on alert and are maintaining continuous surveillance of the affected and adjoining areas.
Mobile patrols and field staff are also in regular contact with local communities to assess conditions and provide assistance, he added.
Fresh hailstorms were reported on Tuesday from Aripal in Tral, adjoining areas of Awantipora, Kakapora in Pulwama district and several locations in Ganderbal district, residents said.
The successive spells of hail and rain have caused damage to crops in various parts of the Valley, particularly in fruit-growing regions.
Expressing concern over the losses, Bandipora MLA Nizamuddin Bhat urged the government to undertake an immediate assessment of the damage and provide relief to affected farmers.
Bhat said the latest hailstorm had devastated crops, vegetables and fruit orchards in several villages of Bandipora and other parts of Kashmir, leaving farmers in distress.
According to the legislator, Bonakoot village in Bandipora was among the worst-hit areas, with reports of substantial losses to crops and orchards.
The precipitation followed an unusually warm day in Kashmir. According to the India Meteorological Department, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 30.7 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal, while the city registered a minimum temperature of 19.2 degrees Celsius, the highest night temperature of the season so far.
Qazigund recorded a maximum of 29 degrees Celsius, Kokernag 29.4 degrees Celsius and Kupwara 27.8 degrees Celsius. Jammu city recorded a maximum temperature of 37.7 degrees Celsius.
MeT office advised residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert in view of the possibility of further rain, thunderstorms and localised flash floods.
