Deadliest August in Jammu and Kashmir: 100+ Lives Lost Due to Extreme Weather Events

Strategic Insights -

In a state of unprecedented crisis, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed the deadliest month of August, as back-to-back natural calamities have resulted in the loss of over 100 lives across the region. The region experienced its sixth wettest August since 1901, with a record 319.3 mm of rainfall against the normal 184.9 mm, marking an excess of 73% precipitation. The month saw an alarming surge in extreme weather events, resulting in damage to several properties and claiming the lives of numerous individuals.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over 30 extreme weather events were recorded in Jammu and Kashmir during August, including flash floods, cloudbursts, landslides, gusty winds, heavy rains, and thunderstorms, with at least 14 events leading to fatalities.
  • The deadliest events included the Kishtwar cloudburst, which claimed 65 lives and left several others missing, and the Reasi landslide along the Vaishno Devi route, which claimed 35 lives.
  • The total number of lives lost in August exceeds 100, with several people still missing after the cloudbursts and landslides.
  • The Meteorological department (MeT) has issued a fresh weather advisory for Jammu and Kashmir, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts till September 03, raising the risk of flash floods, cloudbursts, and landslides in vulnerable areas.
  • Experts attribute the surge in flash floods, cloudbursts, and landslides to increasingly erratic rainfall patterns linked to climate change.
  • J&K has experienced its sixth wettest August since 1901, with the region recording 319.3 mm of rainfall against the normal 184.9 mm, marking an excess of 73% precipitation, according to Independent Weather Forecaster, Faizan Arif Keng.
  • Several districts in the Jammu region witnessed extreme rainfall departures, with Doda recording 290% excess rainfall, followed by Udhampur (159% surplus), Ramban (133% surplus), and Samba (126% surplus).
  • In Kashmir, rainfall patterns remained mixed, with Anantnag (35%), Pulwama (18%), Kulgam (13%), and Srinagar (15%) recording above-normal rainfall, while other districts experienced deficits, according to Faizan Arif Keng.
  • Ladakh recorded exceptional departures from normal, with Kargil receiving 32.6 mm of rainfall against the normal 2 mm, a 1,530% surplus, while Leh registered 54.7 mm against the normal 5.6 mm, an 877% surplus.

Statistics:

  • Over 100 lives lost in Jammu and Kashmir due to extreme weather events in August.
  • 30 extreme weather events recorded in Jammu and Kashmir during August.
  • 14 events leading to fatalities among the extreme weather events.
  • 65 lives lost in the Kishtwar cloudburst.
  • 35 lives lost in the Reasi landslide along the Vaishno Devi route.
  • 319.3 mm of rainfall recorded in Jammu and Kashmir against the normal 184.9 mm, marking an excess of 73% precipitation.
  • 481.3 mm of rainfall recorded in Jammu and Kashmir in 1996, the highest-ever August rainfall.
  • 290% excess rainfall recorded in Doda.
  • 159% surplus rainfall recorded in Udhampur.
  • 133% surplus rainfall recorded in Ramban.
  • 126% surplus rainfall recorded in Samba.
  • 32.6 mm of rainfall recorded in Kargil against the normal 2 mm, a 1,530% surplus.
  • 54.7 mm of rainfall recorded in Leh against the normal 5.6 mm, an 877% surplus.

Sources:

  • Observer News Service
  • Kashmir Observer LLP
  • Contify.com