Key Points:
- Cloudburst in Doda’s Thathri sub-division destroys at least 10 houses; no casualties reported so far.
- Flood-like situation arises with houses washed away, trees uprooted, and valuables damaged.
- Heavy rain alert issued in J&K till evening; threat of further landslides and flooding.
- Jammu-Srinagar NH & Katra-Shivkhori highway closed due to heavy landslides; traffic diverted.
- SDRF teams deployed along Chenab and Tawi rivers amid rising water levels.
- Recent cloudburst in Uttarakhand’s Dharali claimed 5 lives and left many missing.
Doda: A sudden cloudburst in Thathri sub-division of Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir caused widespread destruction early Tuesday, leaving dozens of families homeless. At least 10 houses were washed away or severely damaged, triggering panic across the area.
Though no casualties have been reported so far, officials say continuous rains and flood-like conditions could worsen the situation. Locals rushed to salvage their belongings as the rising waters inundated homes and farmland.
“Years of hard work washed away in minutes,” a resident told reporters while shifting valuables to a safer location.
Flood Situation Worsens: Trees Uprooted, Property Damaged
The cloudburst unleashed a torrent of water and debris into low-lying areas. Villagers reported massive damage to homes, crops, and cattle, while uprooted trees blocked approach roads. At least a dozen families have been shifted to safer areas, with the administration setting up temporary relief shelters.
Officials cautioned that relief and rescue operations may face interruptions due to an IMD warning of heavy rainfall continuing till evening.
Landslides Shut Down Jammu-Srinagar and Katra-Shivkhori Highways
The situation is aggravated by heavy landslides in Ramban, forcing closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, a lifeline for Kashmir’s connectivity. Traffic has been stranded at several stretches.
Similarly, the Katra-Shivkhori National Highway was shut down after multiple landslide incidents. Authorities have diverted traffic to alternative routes, asking commuters to avoid unnecessary travel.
Meanwhile, the Tawi river breached residential areas as water levels rose sharply, submerging low-lying colonies. Dozens of families had to be evacuated overnight.
Chenab River Rising, SDRF Teams on Standby
DSP Reasi Vishal Jamwal confirmed that flooding has damaged the Balwa road and that the Chenab river is swelling dangerously. The government has deployed State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams to high-risk regions.
Residents living near riverbanks have been asked to stay vigilant, avoid stepping out unnecessarily, and shift to upper and safer areas if required.
A String of Cloudburst Disasters in North India
This comes just days after a devastating cloudburst in Dharali, Uttarakhand, where at least five lives were lost and many went missing. Shocking visuals of flash floods sweeping entire villages went viral on social media, underscoring the destructive power of sudden cloudbursts in the Himalayan region.
Experts warn that repeated extreme weather incidents are linked to climate change and unpredictable monsoon patterns, which are turning Himalayan states into high-risk disaster zones.
Outlook: Relief Ops Continue Amid Fresh Weather Warnings
As J&K reels under the cloudburst’s impact, disaster management teams remain on high alert. Relief camps, food supplies, and emergency medical units have been mobilized.
The administration has urged citizens to avoid flood-prone routes, heed official advisories, and remain indoors until the weather normalizes.
With ongoing heavy rainfall warnings for the next 24 hours, authorities fear more landslides and flash floods in the region.
