JK- Doda, Aug 30: The picturesque Bhaderwah Valley in Doda district has been reeling under continuous rainfall this week, leading to a flood-like situation, damage to houses, disruption of essential services, and one confirmed casualty. The heavy downpour, accompanied by thunderstorms, caused panic in the Jamia Masjid market area and surrounding localities, with residents forced to move to safer places.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Bhaderwah, Sunil Bhutyal, confirmed that three houses were completely damaged and several others partially damaged due to the incessant rains. The ADC personally visited the affected families, distributed first aid, and assured timely relief measures. “Three official teams under the Tehsildar Bhaderwah have been deputed to assess the actual damage on the ground,” Bhutyal said. He further informed that road connectivity has been restored in almost all link roads, while work is in progress to restore electricity and potable water supplies, both of which were disrupted as rainfall damaged water pipelines and electricity poles in far-flung areas.
Authorities have also established dedicated helplines to receive information from the public and ensure swift rescue in case of any major incident. Some families from vulnerable locations have already been shifted to safer places.
Meanwhile, in a separate tragic incident, 11 people lost their lives in a devastating cloudburst in Ramban and Reasi districts on Friday night. Rescue operations are still underway with police, SDRF, and local volunteers working to locate missing persons.
Environmental experts have once again warned that the rising frequency of cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides in Chenab Valley and the Pir Panjal ranges cannot be seen merely as natural calamities. Rampant deforestation, unregulated construction, and ecological negligence have compounded the crisis, making communities more vulnerable to disasters.
While the district administration’s swift action in Bhaderwah has been widely appreciated, residents and experts alike stress that only long-term measures—such as strengthening drainage infrastructure, reviving degraded forests, and enforcing strict land-use regulations—can prevent the region from spiraling into repeated disasters.
For now, life in Bhaderwah is gradually returning to normalcy after days of chaos, but the recent devastation across Doda, Ramban, and Reasi is yet another reminder of the fragile balance between human activity and Himalayan ecology.
Report: Mansoor Qadir, ITN.
