Srinagar, Sep 25 (KNS): Flash floods and cloudbursts have caused widespread devastation across Jammu and Kashmir, damaging over 24,000 residential structures, more than 5,000 roads and affecting nearly one lakh hectares of crop area, according to official data.
In a written reply to a starred question tabled by MLA Shakti Raj Parihar (Doda West) in the ongoing autum session of legislative Assembly, the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRRR) as per news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) said the damages pertained to the years 2025-26 and 2026-27.
The Jammu Division bore the maximum brunt, recording 23,470 damaged residential structures, 5,084 roads and 3,670 water supply schemes. Udhampur district reported the highest number of damaged houses at 6,997, followed by Rajouri (4,781) and Jammu (2,718).
In the Kashmir Division, 946 residential structures, 289 roads and 513 water supply schemes were damaged. Budgam (271) and Pulwama (289) were among the worst-hit districts in the Valley.
The agriculture sector also suffered heavily, with 99,300.29 hectares of crop area affected in Jammu Division and 7,021.965 hectares in Kashmir Division. Kulgam (3,472 ha) and Budgam (1,764 ha) reported the highest crop losses in the Valley, while Jammu district alone accounted for 30,728 hectares.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The floods also killed 5,207 livestock in Jammu Division and 37 in Kashmir Division, the reply stated.
On restoration measures, the government said roads and water supply schemes damaged during 2025-26 have been "temporarily restored" and permanent restoration work is underway. For 2026-27, affected infrastructure has been "partially restored" with permanent restoration in progress across all affected districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Significantly, the government admitted that no special financial package or relief has been sanctioned for rehabilitation purposes. It said funds admissible under SDRF norms are being provided to affected persons.
However, the reply noted that the Hon'ble Chief Minister, UT of J&K, provided relief under the CM Relief Fund for structural damages.
Under this, in Kishtwar district for 2025-26, Rs 1.00 lakh each was disbursed to 16 affected houses damaged due to a cloudburst incident at Chishoti, and Rs 0.25 lakh to three partially damaged houses.
For 2026-27, Rs 108.00 lakh was released for 87 beneficiaries in Poonch district, while Rs 281.00 lakh was released for 377 beneficiaries in Rajouri district under the CM Relief Fund. (KNS)