Context: Sudden highly-localized rains in Amarnath, Jammu and Kashmir have caused flooding and led to the deaths of at least 16 people. People called this as a cloudburst.
However, the Indian Meteorological Department(IMD) has said that a cloudburst may not have actually occurred.

Cloudburst

• A cloudburst refers to an extreme amount of rain that happens in a short period, sometimes accompanied by hail and thunder.

• Criteria: The India Meteorological Department(IMD) defines a Cloudburst as unexpected precipitation exceeding 100 mm (or 10 cm) per hour over a geographical region of approximately 20 to 30 square km. 

• Note: All instances of cloudbursts involve heavy rain in a short period but all instances of heavy rain in a short period are not cloudbursts if they do not fit this criterion.

• Conditions during Cloudburst: The relative humidity and cloud cover are at the maximum level with low temperature and slow winds because of which a high amount of clouds may get condensed at a very rapid rate and result in a cloudburst.

Why do Cloudbursts occur in Hilly areas?

• Experts have said it is difficult to predict when exactly a cloudburst will occur. But they are more likely to occur in mountainous zones mainly because of terrain and elevation.

• This is because, in hilly areas, sometimes saturated clouds ready to condense into rain cannot produce rain due to the upward movement of the very warm current of air. 

• Instead of falling downwards, raindrops are carried upwards by the air current. New drops are formed and existing raindrops increase in size. 

• After a point, the raindrops become too heavy for the cloud to hold on to, and they drop down together in a quick flash.