In just 13 days, rainfall soars up to 1050% in Jammu districts; Kashmir sees deficit showers
Arteev Sharma
Jammu, September 5: The flash floods that have ravaged large parts of Jammu division over the past fortnight have been directly linked to excessive rainfall, with the region recording 57 percent above-normal rains since the onset of monsoon on June 1, according to official data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The deluge has caused widespread destruction across several districts, bringing normal life to a grinding halt. Hundreds of habitations in far-off and remote parts of the region are still cut off from district headquarters, while the administration has been struggling to restore power and water supply in flood-hit areas.
In sharp contrast, Kashmir Valley, which also reported flooding this week, has received only 3.6 percent excess rainfall up to September 4. The seasonal average for Jammu region stands at nearly 1150 mm, while Kashmir normally receives around 250 mm during the June–September monsoon period.
District-wise data reveals alarming trends. Doda and Udhampur have witnessed the sharpest deviations, with 143 percent and 110 percent excess rainfall, respectively. Doda recorded 875.3 mm against a normal of 360.2 mm, while Udhampur logged 1790.9 mm compared to its average 715.24 mm during the same period.
Reasi district emerged as the wettest in the region, receiving 2324.4 mm rainfall till September 4—66 percent above its normal quota of 1396.4 mm. Samba also reported unusually high showers with 1266.5 mm against a normal of 688.3 mm. Jammu district itself registered 1102.2 mm rainfall, 31 percent above normal levels.
According to the IMD officials, the situation turned grim after August 22, when intense and frequent downpours triggered flash floods. In just 13 days, rainfall departures crossed alarming thresholds—by nearly 1050 percent in some districts. Doda recorded 563.4 mm against a normal of 49 mm, Jammu received 524 mm against 121.8 mm, Reasi saw 887.4 mm (nearly 330 mm above average), while Udhampur logged 679.3 mm.
Contrastingly, Kashmir Valley showed mixed rainfall trends. Shopian reported a deficit of 55 percent, Bandipora 13 percent, and Kupwara 21 percent below normal rainfall, despite localized flooding incidents.
Weathermen attributed the “catastrophic flooding” to the unusual intensity and frequency of rainfall events, which clogged the region’s drainage systems and river basins. With several districts still reeling under the impact, disaster management teams have been put on high alert as the monsoon season continues.
Pertinently, August turned out to be one of the deadliest months in Jammu and Kashmir’s recent history. Nearly 170 people lost their lives in cloudbursts, landslides, and floods, including 132 pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi and Machail Mata. Heavy rains also unleashed widespread devastation, damaging bridges, schools, power lines, and water supply schemes across Jammu division.
