Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, July 7

A cloudburst triggered flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir’s mountainous Doda district overnight, sweeping through the town of Thathri, damaging dozens of homes, shops and vehicles, and disrupting a key highway linking the Chenab Valley, officials said on Tuesday.

No deaths were reported, although one woman was injured and admitted to hospital, authorities said, describing her condition as stable.

The cloudburst struck the upper reaches of Thathri late Monday night, unleashing torrents of water mixed with mud, rocks and boulders that rushed through residential neighbourhoods and commercial areas, forcing residents to flee to safer locations.

Preliminary estimates showed at least 14 houses, 16 shops, a private school and around 20 vehicles were destroyed, while several other structures sustained partial damage. Roads were buried under debris, cutting off movement in parts of the town.

Emergency teams from the district administration, police, revenue department and other agencies, assisted by local volunteers, launched rescue and restoration operations shortly after the disaster.

Officials said efforts were focused on clearing debris, reopening roads and conducting a detailed assessment of damage to facilitate relief and compensation for affected families.

The flash floods also disrupted traffic on National Highway-244, the main road connecting Doda and Kishtwar districts, after landslides blocked sections of the highway.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said he had reviewed the situation with Doda Deputy Commissioner Krishan Lal and directed authorities to provide immediate assistance to affected residents while expediting restoration work, including reopening the highway.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he remained in constant contact with district officials and described the administration’s response as swift.

“The administration has promptly swung into action and is taking all possible measures to provide relief and restore damaged infrastructure,” Singh said in a statement.

Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Sunil Sharma urged the administration to restore essential services, including electricity, drinking water and road connectivity, and called for adequate compensation for victims.

District authorities said surveys to determine the extent of losses were continuing and compensation would be disbursed in accordance with government norms.

Meanwhile, residents blamed alleged poor road construction practices for worsening the disaster.

Protesters accused contractors working under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) of dumping excavated debris into natural drainage channels rather than disposing of it scientifically.

They alleged the blocked streams diverted floodwaters into the town, amplifying the destruction, and demanded an independent investigation into the matter.

Authorities have not commented on the allegations.

Officials advised residents living near seasonal streams and unstable slopes to remain alert as intermittent rainfall continues across the Chenab Valley, raising the risk of fresh landslides and flash floods.

Thathri has experienced similar disasters in recent years. A cloudburst in 2017 triggered flash floods that killed six people and caused extensive damage, highlighting the vulnerability of the region to extreme weather during the monsoon season.

Officials said damage estimates could increase as surveys continue.