Srinagar, September 4, 2025 – Heavy rainfall triggered by recent cloudbursts has caused a breach in the Jhelum River, leading to widespread inundation in several villages across Budgam district in central Kashmir. Authorities have launched large-scale evacuation operations, rescuing hundreds of residents from low-lying areas as water levels continue to rise alarmingly. The incident has raised fears of a repeat of past devastating floods, prompting the Jammu and Kashmir government to issue high alerts and deploy emergency response teams.The Jhelum River, a vital waterway originating from the Verinag Spring in south Kashmir, breached its danger mark at multiple points following incessant rains over the past 48 hours.
At Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar, the water level surged to 23.15 feet, exceeding the danger threshold of 21 feet, while at Sangam in Anantnag district, it reached 27.15 feet against a danger level of 25 feet. In Budgam, the overflow from the Doodhganga stream—a key tributary of the Jhelum—has inundated villages such as Wathura, where several houses were submerged, forcing families to flee to higher ground.Deputy Commissioner of Budgam, Bilal Mohiuddin, confirmed that police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have evacuated over 200 people from affected areas, including nomadic families stranded near riverbanks.
“In Wathura Budgam, some houses were inundated due to waters of Doodhganga, and the families were rescued by police, SDRF, and NDRF teams and put in evacuation centres,” Mohiuddin stated. No casualties have been reported so far, but officials warn that the situation could worsen if the rains persist, as forecasted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).The floods have disrupted essential services, with roads submerged and power supplies intermittent in parts of Budgam and adjoining districts like Pulwama and Anantnag. The Irrigation and Flood Control Department has urged residents to avoid water bodies and low-lying zones, emphasizing that contingency plans are in place. Divisional Commissioner Srinagar, Anshu Garg, noted that heavy rains in south and central Kashmir overnight contributed to the surge, but IMD predictions suggest a decrease in rainfall by evening, potentially easing the crisis.This event echoes the devastating floods of 2014, when the Jhelum overflowed, submerging large parts of Srinagar and causing over 200 deaths across Jammu and Kashmir. More recently, in August 2025, similar heavy downpours led to evacuations in south Kashmir, with the Jhelum crossing danger levels at Pampore and prompting alerts in Pulwama and Anantnag. Climate experts attribute the increasing frequency of such incidents to changing weather patterns, including intensified monsoons and cloudbursts, which have become more common in the Himalayan region.
Historical Context: Cloudbursts and Floods in Budgam and Shopian
The current crisis in Budgam is reminiscent of a tragic incident in May 2020, when cloudbursts triggered flash floods in Budgam and Shopian districts, claiming the lives of five young women. In Budgam, two minor sisters drowned after being swept away by a swollen nallah, while in Shopian, two other sisters—Khalida (25) and Sumiya (23)—were killed in the Chotipora area as they walked along a stream bank. A fifth victim, also a young female, perished in the ensuing chaos, highlighting the vulnerability of rural communities to sudden deluges.Photographs from the 2020 event show locals navigating muddy rivulets amid the debris, underscoring the recurring nature of these disasters. According to meteorological data, cloudbursts—defined as over 100 mm of rain in an hour over a small area—have intensified in Kashmir due to climate change, with at least 18 such incidents recorded since 2017, resulting in 18 deaths and significant property damage.
