Kashmir Floods Return: Ramban Devastation Exposes J&K’s Unpreparedness

By Himanshu Verma 26, April 2025 11:30 PM thenationexpress.in

Flash Floods Wreck Ramban: 3 Dead, Highway Destroyed

-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 déjà vu? Kashmir Still Vulnerable

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.

Why Is Kashmir Flooding Repeatedly?

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.

Hollow Promises Exposed

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.

What’s Needed Urgently?

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.