Cloudburst in Ganderbal's Padabal village & unfulfilled promises
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On August 4th, a cloudburst hit Padabal village of Cherwan, Kangan in the Ganderbal district of central Kashmir. It caused landslides and flash floods that damaged houses, paddy fields, and orchards. According to the locals, a cloudburst occurred in the hydropower canal-Upper Sindh Hydro Power House (USHP) Stage II- located in the upper areas of the village Kawcharwan, nearly 2 kilometres away from Padabal village. After the cloudburst, the canal overflowed, which then turned into a landslide that reached the village, resulting in significant damage.
The mudslides blocked the Srinagar National Highway and damaged paddy fields, roads, houses, and electricity. The highway was later restored in the day. There have been no casualties reported till now.
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Landslides caused by increased construction, human activity, climate
A senior state geologist told Ground Report, "Two main factors contribute to these landslides-geological and human-induced. Rock stability and type, joint structures, and the presence of soft soil, especially plastic clay soil, contribute to instability. Human interference, like road construction on balanced slopes without precautions and unplanned drainage systems, also destabilizes the area."
As a geologist explained the soil in the Ganderbal area predominantly consists of two types: karewa soils and alluvial soils. The karewa soil contains a component called plastic clay soil, which expands and contracts with moisture, leading to instability. This continuous cycle of compaction and expansion makes the material prone to sliding, especially on gravitational slopes.
They added, "Additionally, human activities such as the cultivation of land in higher zones and inadequate infiltration of water further destabilize the soil," the geologist explained.
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Past trends show recurring landslides' impact
The cloudburst and landslide in Cherwan village are not isolated incidents. A few days ago, there was a report of land sinking in the Bonibagh area of Kangan in Ganderbal district, just 1 km away from the cloudburst site. Locals are living in extreme fear as the land near their houses is sinking. "It seems like the hill is about to fall. Landslides from this hill keep coming towards the area. We are reeling in fear," the residents said.
The Cherwan village is familiar with such incidents. A study titled "The Landslide Database of Kashmir Himalayas (LDKH)" identifies 739 landslide events in 506 days at the regional scale. In addition, the Baltal route (Ganderbal), the main route for Ladakh and Amarnath yatra, and the Sonmarg-Gumri route (Ganderbal) are prone to landslides.
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What can we do?
Dr. Wani emphasized the importance of combining scientific research with practical policies to address natural disaster challenges in the region. "We can't prevent these events, but we can reduce their impact through planning and resilient infrastructure."
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