Cloudbursts trigger flash floods in Pahalgam, Shangus, minor damage reported

Anantnag, Aug 14: A series of cloudbursts on Thursday triggered flash floods in parts of Anantnag district, causing minor damage to infrastructure, uprooting trees and inundating several areas.

The first cloudburst struck Langnai near Batkoot in Pahalgam around 4 p.m., damaging a concrete bridge and forcing a suspension of traffic until late evening.

The Lidder River swelled, overflowing onto streets as debris and large tree logs were carried downstream.

“The flash floods uprooted several trees from the hillside, and huge logs of wood could be seen floating into the Lidder River,” said GK video journalist Nadeem Gulzar, who filmed the incident. He said the deluge caused panic among locals and nearby hoteliers.

About an hour later, a second cloudburst hit the Betab valley, causing a branch of the Lidder stream flowing from Sheshnag to overflow, flooding the popular park area.

The third cloudburst struck Chatergul in Shangus, inundating several villages and damaging the fencing of a residential property.

Authorities were assessing the situation, but no casualties were reported.

Notably, the incidents followed a massive cloudburst in Kishtwar earlier in the day.