Pahalgam, July 12, KNT: A sudden cloudburst over the upper reaches of Pahalgam triggered flash floods on late Saturday evening, inundating several hotels, guest houses and residential buildings, forcing the evacuation of tourists and sending panic through the south Kashmir tourist resort at the peak of the holiday and Amarnath Yatra season.
Officials said an intense spell of rainfall, believed to have been caused by a localized cloudburst over the forested Awoora-Dehwathu catchment, caused the Awoora stream, also known locally as Nala Overa, to swell rapidly before overflowing into adjoining habitations and commercial establishments. The sudden surge sent muddy water gushing into hotels, restaurants and nearby residential areas within minutes.
Among the prominent hospitality establishments affected were The Pahalgam Shore, The Pahalgam Dayz, The Idyll and The Pahalgam Stag, where floodwaters entered ground floors, damaging rooms, furniture, electrical equipment and other infrastructure. Several other hotels, guest houses and private residences also reported inundation as water levels rose rapidly.
The district administration, police, disaster response teams and local volunteers rushed to the affected areas and shifted tourists and other occupants to safer locations as a precautionary measure. Officials said no loss of life or injuries had been reported till late Saturday night, although damage to property was being assessed.
As part of the emergency response, technical teams from the Flood Control Department were deputed to inspect the affected stream, while revenue officials began a ground assessment of damaged houses, hotels and public infrastructure. Authorities also suspended electricity supply to several villages, including Awoora, Dehwathu, Laddi and Batkoot, after shutting down 11 KV feeders to eliminate the risk of electrocution in waterlogged areas.
The incident comes amid continuing weather instability across Jammu and Kashmir, with meteorologists having warned of intermittent heavy rain and the possibility of localized flash floods in vulnerable mountainous areas over the weekend. Authorities have advised residents, tourists and Amarnath Yatra pilgrims to remain vigilant and avoid venturing close to streams and flood-prone locations during intense rainfall.
The administration said restoration of normalcy had begun soon after floodwaters started receding, while damage to hotels, homes and civic infrastructure would be assessed before compensation and rehabilitation measures are initiated. [KNT]
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