Landslide and Cloudburst Kill 10 in Jammu and Kashmir
At least ten people were killed and three remain missing after a landslide and a cloudburst struck Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi and Ramban districts. The disasters were triggered by intense overnight rainfall. In Reasi, a landslide flattened a house, killing a couple and their five children, while a separate cloudburst in Ramban killed three others. Rescue operations are ongoing as heavy rains continue to cause widespread damage across several districts in the Jammu region.
Unpacked:
Cloudbursts are intense rain events—over 10 cm of rain in an hour within a 10 km area—caused by rapid condensation of moisture-laden air as it rises up mountains. Hilly regions experience more cloudbursts due to 'orographic lift,' where warm, moist air cools rapidly as it climbs steep terrain, releasing heavy rainfall suddenly.
Yes, studies and news reports indicate that both the frequency and intensity of cloudbursts and landslides in Jammu and Kashmir have sharply increased over the past decade, largely due to rising temperatures and unplanned development in vulnerable areas.
Cloudbursts and landslides cause fatalities, destroy homes, disrupt transport, and force evacuations. Debris can block roads and flood rivers, leading to loss of life, property damage, and long-term displacement for affected communities.
Yes, heavy and persistent rainfall often continues after initial disasters, making rescue operations difficult due to blocked or damaged roads, risk of further slides, and hazardous conditions for rescuers and survivors alike.