Torrential rain has broken a 71-year record in Jammu, occupied Jammu and Kashmir, disrupting normal life across the city.  According to Kashmir Media Service, an extraordinary 185.6 millimetres of rainfall was recorded within just two hours yesterday morning. According to the Meteorological Department, the rain surpassed the previous October record of the past 71 years.  The intense downpour, resembling a cloudburst in its impact, caused widespread waterlogging and flooding in urban areas. The heavy rainfall disrupted daily activities and highlighted the urgent need for effective drainage systems, disaster preparedness and climate-resilient infrastructure. 

The incident has renewed concerns about the growing impact of climate change on the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, including agriculture, forests, water resources and tourism in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Changes in rainfall patterns, rising temperatures, glacier retreat and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events pose serious challenges to the region's environment and the livelihoods of its inhabitants.  Environmental degradation, deforestation, loss of agricultural land to construction and infrastructure projects, and destruction of forest cover can further aggravate the consequences of heavy rainfall by increasing surface runoff, soil erosion, landslides and flash-flood risks. 

Environmentalists have repeatedly highlighted the importance of protecting forests, preserving agricultural land and ensuring sustainable development in ecologically sensitive mountain regions.  The Himalayan glaciers are also under increasing pressure from rising temperatures and changing climatic conditions. Their retreat threatens the long-term stability of water resources and the seasonal water supply on which agriculture, communities and tourism depend.   At the same time, unplanned urbanisation and inadequate drainage systems can turn intense rainfall into a major disaster for densely populated areas.  

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)