Catastrophic flash floods triggered by relentless rains and cloudbursts have ravaged thousands of acres of paddy and apple crops across four southern districts of Kashmir, plunging farmers into despair with losses estimated in hundreds of crores. The deluge, which swelled the Jhelum River to dangerous levels, has obliterated livelihoods in Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, and parts of Budgam, marking one of the worst agricultural disasters in the region this season.

Farmers like Mohammad Younis from Shamsipora in Anantnag are reeling from the destruction. “We were gearing up to harvest paddy by month-end, but the floods wiped out everything. A year’s hard work is gone,” Younis told PTI, echoing the anguish of countless farmers in south Kashmir’s rice-producing bowl. Areas such as Tachoo, Dooru, Muniwar, Lallipora, and Mallapora in Anantnag, Kakapora and Newa in Pulwama, and parts of Kulgam have seen entire rice fields submerged or washed away. The floods, intensified by late August’s heavy rainfall, pushed the Jhelum’s water level to over 27 feet—two feet above the flood threshold—causing breaches in embankments and widespread inundation, including in central Kashmir’s Srinagar and Budgam.

The horticulture sector, a cornerstone of Kashmir’s economy, has also suffered immense damage. Apple orchards in Anantnag’s Dachnipora, Sallar, Srigufwara, and Kullar, along the Lidder stream, have been decimated, with trees uprooted and crops ruined. Low-lying orchards in Pulwama and parts of Shopian and Kulgam have also been hit hard. A horticulture department official noted that while precise loss estimates are pending, the scale of destruction is staggering. “Farmers are claiming losses in hundreds of crores, but we’ll have a clearer picture once field assessments begin,” said a senior Anantnag official. Teams are set to survey affected areas starting tomorrow to quantify the damage.

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The floods’ impact extends beyond agriculture, with homes, infrastructure, and livestock also affected. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has urged the Central government to expedite a relief package, emphasizing the need for comprehensive aid covering both the Kashmir Valley and Jammu division. As farmers face an uncertain future, the region braces for a long recovery, with calls for immediate financial assistance and long-term flood mitigation measures growing louder.

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