By Himanshu Verma 26, April 2025 11:30 PM thenationexpress.in
-Homes & Highway Washed Away: Jammu-Srinagar NH-44 (lifeline to Valley) severely damaged. -Casualties: 3 lives lost in Baghana village; shops, vehicles swept away. -Response: Army & NDRF quick to rescue, but bigger questions remain.
2014 Floods: Jhelum overflow drowned Srinagar – 300+ deaths, ₹1T+ losses. 2024 Reality: – Zero flood-proof infrastructure since 2014. – Jhelum dredging incomplete, embankments weak. – Srinagar = "Sinking Summer Capital" after 2 days of rain.
Root Causes: 1. Climate Change: Erratic cloudbursts, warmer winters → rapid snowmelt. 2. Deforestation: Unchecked construction on floodplains. 3. Failed Dredging: Jhelum’s capacity reduced by 60% since 1900s.
2014 Pledge: "Never again!" → 2024 Ground Report: – No early warning systems for cloudbursts. – Highway still unstable – landslides block 70% of Valley’s supplies. – Srinagar’s drainage choked with plastic waste.
Short-Term: – Jhelum dredging on war footing. – NH-44 reinforcement with landslide-proof walls. Long-Term: – Flood zoning laws (ban construction near rivers). – Dutch-style water management (canals, reservoirs). – Climate-resilient urban planning.