Cloudburst Triggers Flash Floods, Landslides in Minamarg; Bakerwal Families Rescued, Highway Traffic Hit

DRASS, Aug 2: A cloudburst struck the Mina-2 area of Minamarg in the Drass sector on Friday evening, triggering flash floods and landslides that affected temporary shelters of Bakerwal families and temporarily disrupted traffic on the Drass-Srinagar National Highway. Officials said the flash floods damaged four temporary Bakerwal shelters (deras) located opposite the Police Post at Minamarg, affecting nearly 20 people. Police personnel responded swiftly, safely evacuating all the affected families to the Police Post Minamarg building and a nearby Sheep Husbandry Department facility, preventing any loss of life. In a separate incident, a Wagon R car was swept away by the strong floodwaters. However, all occupants managed to escape safely, and no casualties or injuries were reported. The cloudburst also led to the temporary suspension of traffic on the Drass-Srinagar National Highway as debris and mud blocked the affected stretch. Police teams, assisted by road clearance machinery, launched restoration work to clear the debris and resume vehicular movement at the earliest. Authorities have urged commuters, tourists and local residents to avoid crossing overflowing streams, water channels and other flood-prone areas. They have also advised people to exercise utmost caution while travelling until weather conditions improve and traffic is fully restored.