Cloudburst causes massive damage to houses, agriculture; authorities rush to assess situation, provide relief; ADC Gbl estimates damage worth Rs 2.20 crore
Raja Syed Rather
Ganderbal, Aug 05 : Flash floods, caused by a cloudburst, have wreaked havoc in the Kangan subdivision of the Ganderbal district, striking several areas, including Cherwan and Kawcherwan, at 12:30 am on Sunday. It caused massive damage to residential houses, agricultural land, vehicles and roads.
According to the details obtained by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the cloudburst led to mudslides in the Cherwan Area along the Srinagar-Leh National Highway, endangering nearby residential areas. The flash floods also damaged roads, water supply lines, and electricity infrastructure, burying several parked vehicles under debris.
Locals said the area experienced a flood-like situation due to the overwhelming water flow.
Residents told KNO that the land had been sinking over the past few days and had alerted the authorities. They said a similar incident happened in 2020, when landslides damaged several residential houses, commercial shops, and agricultural land, which resulted in losses worth crores of rupees.
The Power Canal passing through the upper part of the town became blocked due to the heavy rainfall, exacerbating the situation. As water levels in the canal rose, authorities and residents urgently called for the evacuation of Cherwan, Padabal, and surrounding areas to prevent widespread flooding.
The agricultural sector in the region has also suffered significant losses, with standing crops severely damaged. The torrential rains that lashed the Kangan subdivision late into the night led to the cloudburst and then flooding. Severe damage occurred in the Cherwan, Kullan and Gagangheer areas of Kangan, with Cherwan being particularly hard-hit.
Police and Ganderbal administration officials immediately initiated rescue operations.
ADC Ganderbal Gulzar Ahmad, speaking with KNO, estimated the damage at Rs 2.20 crore, encompassing government buildings, roads, electrical infrastructure, canals, houses, government walls, water pipes and vehicles.
“Immediate relief under the Red Cross had been provided to the affected families,” he said. The ADC assured that the administration would offer every possible support. He added that the restoration of water and electricity is being prioritised and fast-tracked.
Officials who visited the site included Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Ganderbal Gulzar Ahmad, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Kangan Bilal Mukhtar, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Kangan Muzaffar Jan, and others—(KNO)
