India's hydropower push raises natural disaster fears in Kashmir

Natural disastersSeven dam projects ongoing as locals face repeated cloudbursts, floods and landslidesA dam is seen on the Chenab River, which flows from Indian Kashmir into Pakistan, at Chanderkote in the Jammu and Kashmir region, May 6, 2025. © ReutersTARUSHI ASWANIAugust 24, 2026 16:42 JSTKISHTWAR, India -- On Aug. 1, when flash floods swept through Kishtwar district in India-administered Jammu and Kashmir, Iqbal Ahmad, a local trader, saw roads disappear under floodwaters and thunderstorms wreak havoc on homes and shops alike.