Severe flash floods triggered by intense downpours and suspected cloudbursts in upper catchment areas unleashed widespread destruction in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Wednesday.
The Sukhnag River overflowed dangerously within hours, inundating low-lying areas and washing away nearly two dozen commercial shops in the Beerwah sub-division.
Sudden Surge In Sukhnag River Collapses Municipal Market Complex
According to local authorities and eye-witnesses, the sudden swell in the Sukhnag River—originating from the Tosa Maidan forest area—entered the Beerwah bus stand and adjacent commercial zones with immense force.
A multi-shop municipal market complex built along the riverbank experienced immediate structural failure as raging floodwaters eroded its foundation, causing several concrete structures to collapse like a pack of cards.
| Incident Parameter | Details & Status (Budgam / Beerwah Zone) |
| Primary Location | Beerwah Bus Stand & Municipal Market, Budgam |
| Affected Waterbody | Sukhnag River (Nallah Sukhnag) |
| Primary Cause | Heavy rainfall / Cloudburst in Tosa Maidan catchment |
| Commercial Damage | ~20–24 shops completely destroyed or washed away |
| Casualties Reported | No direct fatalities reported; property losses estimated in crores |
| Emergency Response | SDRF, Jammu & Kashmir Police, and Civil Defence deployed |
Traders and local shopkeepers made desperate attempts to salvage inventory and commercial stock, but the sheer velocity of the floodwaters hampered recovery efforts. Losses are preliminarily estimated to run into crores of rupees.
Infrastructure Damaged; Emergency Rescue Ops Underway
Beyond the commercial collapse at Beerwah, floodwaters also severely impacted nearby Khag and adjacent hamlets. Essential diversion roads, pedestrian bridges, and local utility poles along the river corridor sustained heavy structural damage, temporarily disrupting connectivity.
Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, and district civil administration rushed to the spot to clear debris and secure vulnerable riverbanks.
District authorities have issued a strict advisory urging residents to stay away from riverbeds, active water channels, and landslide-prone hill slopes as rain warnings remain active across parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
