SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has informed the Legislative Assembly that the Union Territory suffered extensive damage to property and public infrastructure during the unprecedented floods of 2014, with more than 1.6 lakh residential and commercial structures affected across both divisions, prompting large-scale flood management and mitigation works that continue to date.
Replying to questions raised by MLA Mubarik Gul, the Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Department said the 2014 floods caused widespread devastation, following which detailed loss assessments were conducted by designated committees and relief was disbursed to affected families under prescribed norms.
According to the official assessment, over 21,900 houses were fully damaged, more than 51,000 severely damaged, and around 43,600 partially damaged across Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, over 43,800 huts and cattle sheds and nearly 20,800 commercial and other buildings were damaged. The losses were reported from both Jammu and Kashmir divisions, with the Valley accounting for a substantial share of the destruction due to inundation of large floodplains.
The government said that after the 2014 disaster, both short-term and long-term flood mitigation plans were approved, particularly for the flood-prone Kashmir Valley, which has a single drainage channel — the River Jhelum — with limited carrying capacity. Officials noted that the Valley has witnessed repeated floods historically and that 34 notable floods have occurred in the Jhelum basin since 1800, with an average recurrence of one major flood every six years.
In the immediate aftermath, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department undertook restoration of thousands of breaches and vulnerable spots along embankments. Subsequently, comprehensive flood management projects were taken up under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP).
Under PMDP Phase-I, works costing Rs 399.29 crore were executed to increase the carrying capacity of the River Jhelum in the Srinagar reach. The department reported that the safe discharge capacity was enhanced from about 31,800 cusecs to 41,000 cusecs, while bottlenecks in the Flood Spill Channel were removed and its capacity increased significantly. Expenditure of over Rs 327 crore has been incurred under this phase.
PMDP Phase-II, approved at a cost of Rs 1,623.43 crore, is currently under implementation and focuses on comprehensive flood management of the Jhelum and its tributaries. Several bank protection and anti-erosion works are underway, with many already completed, and regulatory gates have been installed at Hokersar wetland to better regulate flows. Over Rs 1,160 crore has been spent so far under this phase.
Additionally, the Government of India has released further funds for flood management and related works under various schemes. The Jal Shakti Department recently received over Rs 60 crore for ongoing projects, while multiple works under flood mitigation continue across districts.
The Housing and Urban Development sector has also carried out major drainage improvements in Srinagar city. Existing dewatering stations were upgraded and new ones installed, raising the storm-water evacuation capacity significantly. The city now has over 100 permanent dewatering stations and hundreds of mobile pumping units to tackle waterlogging during heavy rainfall. Drainage networks have been expanded to cover approximately 650 kilometres.
The government acknowledged that flooding remains a recurring challenge due to the Valley’s topography and limited drainage capacity. It informed the House that flood-like situations were again witnessed in August and September 2025 following spells of heavy rainfall. Emergency measures were taken, including plugging of the Zoonipora breach and strengthening of embankments at vulnerable stretches in Srinagar and Pulwama districts.
Authorities said a detailed post-monsoon safety audit has been conducted and hundreds of embankment strengthening works have been tendered to reinforce weak spots before the next monsoon season. Floodplain zoning notifications are also being finalised to regulate land use in low-lying areas and reduce future damage.
The government further stated that long-term solutions, including augmentation of the existing flood spill channel and the possibility of constructing a new supplementary channel, are under technical and feasibility study, though these options involve high costs and significant land acquisition.
