Anantnag Cloudburst Triggers Flash Floods, Evacuates Tourists in Kashmir

A cloudburst struck the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on the evening of July 11‑12, with two separate incidents in the Chittergul area and the Awoora‑Dehwathu region of Pahalgam. The sudden downpour caused flash floods that inundated hotels, homes, roads and agricultural land. All tourists and residents were evacuated without any reported casualties. Local hotel staff, residents and rescue agencies broke walls and windows to create exits, carrying elderly guests on their shoulders. The Bijbehara‑Pahalgam road was heavily damaged, cutting vehicular traffic and disrupting electricity and drinking‑water supply. Seventy‑nine water‑supply schemes across the district were damaged, and orchards and paddy fields suffered extensive loss. The state government deployed army, police and BSF teams for rescue and began damage‑assessment and road‑repair work. The People’s Democratic Party has urged the administration to provide compensation to affected families. Experts linked the severity of the event to deforestation, forest‑land encroachment and waste dumping in high‑altitude areas, calling for longer‑term infrastructure strengthening and disaster‑preparedness measures.