[REVISION HISTORY]

Jammu & Kashmir floods 2024–2026 – Monsoon and cloudbursts

Updated 9 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-29 08:56 UTC → 2026-08-31 22:14 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Flash flooding and cloudbursts across Jammu and Kashmir intensified throughout the summer of 2026. The Meteorological Department recorded over 35 cloudbursts this year, driven by the interaction of southwest monsoon winds and weak western disturbances. Total fatalities have risen to at least 31, including over 25 deaths from July 19 floods in Poonch and Rajouri. In Rajouri’s Thanamandi subdivision, a cloudburst at approximately 14 locations caused significant destruction, washing away a main bus stand, vehicles, and homes, and leaving at least four people dead. In the Rajdhani Panchayat, the impact was particularly severe, destroying roads and agricultural land; one family of six lost their home entirely and sought shelter in a government school. Damage has been widespread across districts including Pahalgam, Shopian, Bandipora, Gurez, Lolab, Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi, Samba, and Kathua, affecting roads, bridges, and farmland. Experts have attributed the severity of these events to rising temperatures increasing atmospheric moisture, the orographic effect of the Himalayas, and human activities such as deforestation and unplanned river-bank construction. Following the August 1 Kishtwar cloudburst, authorities closed schools in Kishtwar, Doda, and Ramban, transitioning to online learning. To improve preparedness, the Ministry of Earth Sciences installed Early Warning Systems in Kishtwar and Machhail. ~~By late August, heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning continued to impact the Ramban and Udhampur districts. While~~ As of August 31, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) ~~forecast that rainfall activity would gradually taper off, a weather advisory warned that brief, high-intensity~~ and the Meteorological Centre Srinagar have issued warnings for widespread rainfall, thunderstorms, and intense showers ~~between~~ across the Jammu and Kashmir divisions. Between August 31 and September 2 2, the region is expected to experience light to moderate rain with isolated heavy spells, lightning, and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph. Authorities warned that these intense localized showers could trigger flash floods, mudslides, and ~~landslides, particularly~~ landslides in ~~the Jammu division. Additionally, temperatures have risen above seasonal norms, with Srinagar recording 33.5 degrees Celsius, 4.2 degrees above the norm.~~ vulnerable areas. While heavy activity is expected to decrease after September 2, scattered rain and thunderstorms may continue intermittently through September 5.

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