After Leh, Cloudburst strikes Jammu; 4 dead, many stranded

Jammu, Jun 9: Jammu experienced the aftermath of cloudburst once again on Thursday, Jun 9. Four people are feared dead.

Many people have been stranded in the Doda-Batote highway, which is 135 km from Jammu, sources infirmed. Army, police have rushed the place and rescue operation continues in the region, government sources stated.

Cloudburst in Jammu occurred nearly one year after Leh and Srinagar had witnessed the dire consequences of the natural calamity. On Aug 5 and 6, 2010, Leh was battered by heavy downpour which led to flash floods and mudslides leading to as many as 175 deaths. While over 400 people were injured, the region in the state of Jammu Kashmir suffered widespread damage.

Soon after Leh, cloudburst occurred near Khonmoh, 13 kms from Srinagar. The floods caused widespread damage to properties. While 285 structures were damaged at Khonmoh and 33 were damaged at Balhama. Besides this, 3300 kanals of paddy, orchards, and saffron fields have been washed away in the flood.

A cloudburst is defined as an extreme form of rainfall. The downpour is always voluminous and leads to flash floods. The cloudburst rainfall is sometimes mixed with hail and thunder. It does not last for more than a few minutes but is capable of causing great damage.

OneIndia News