Kashmir receives ‘highest rainfall in June-July after 20 years’

Kashmir has received highest rainfall in two decades in June-July this year, triggering fears that the “abnormal weather conditions” may lead to “chances of a hydro-meteorological disaster” in the Valley, officials said Sunday.

The data available with local MeT department reveals Kashmir has received 127 mm rainfall in June-July this year—the highest since 1996 when the rainfall recorded was 142.1 mm.

The previous data, according to the Met Department, shows the Valley recorded highest rainfall of 182.6 mm in July 1988 and 193.8 mm in 1903 in the same month.

Director Meteorological department, Sonam Lotus said September 2014 was “one of the rare meteorological events as it broke all previous records of heaviest rainfall that lasted for continuous 72 hours.”

“Flood is not new to Kashmir given its geographical location. With increase in rainfall in the past few years, a flood disaster can’t be ruled out. The only solution is to have a robust preventive mechanism in place to address this challenge because we can’t afford to issue frequent flood warnings and ask people to shift to safer places,” Lotus told .

He said post-September 2014 floods, there has been record-breaking rainfall on two occasions—last week of March and third week of June. “So the signal is very clear that weather is behaving abnormally and the chances of hydro-meteorological disaster are increasing,” he said.

The MeT director said ‘abnormal’ weather could be a “consequence of changing climate or other complex atmospheric processes, the complete understanding of which requires a high quality research.”

“The solution lies in investing heavily in mitigation, preventive measures, capacity building than waiting for the disaster to happen and going for rehabilitation,” he said. “Every rupee invested in pre-disaster mitigation process will be more fruitful than post-disaster rehabilitation.”

Lotus said because of severe thunderstorm accompanied by intense rains, there have been flashfloods in various parts of Kashmir in the past one month.  “In KullanGanderbal, where three people died, it was a cloudburst while elsewhere we had intense rains,” he said, quickly adding that it is “very difficult to measure a cloudburst.”

Head of Kashmir University’s Earth Sciences department, Prof Shakil A Romshoo said cloudbursts mostly occur in mountainous areas.

“Cloudbursts in Kashmir are a localized phenomenon and it can’t be predicted. Hot and cold clouds strike mostly mountainous areas and result in cloudbursts. You can’t predict when it will happen,” he said.

“Mostly these cloudbursts occur when there is an intense heat wave, particularly around water bodies. Hot clouds migrate to colder places where they condense,” he said, warning that people living around water bodies need to be cautious during heat waves.

“During this time, people should avoid excursions around water bodies and take precautions while visiting mountainous areas,” Romshoo said.