Flash Floods and Landslides Disrupt Doda–Kishtwar Highway, Bury Vehicles at 540 MW Kwar Hydroelectric Project.
Jammu:
Heavy overnight rainfall triggered flash floods and landslides across parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, causing significant damage to the Doda–Kishtwar National Highway and severely affecting the under-construction 540 MW Kwar Hydroelectric Power Project in Kishtwar district. While there were no reports of casualties or injuries, the disaster disrupted road connectivity, damaged infrastructure, and buried several vehicles and heavy construction machinery under mud and debris.
According to officials, incessant rainfall led to flash floods that deposited massive quantities of mud, boulders, and debris along the Doda–Kishtwar highway, damaging a portion of the road near Prem Nagar in Doda district. As a result, vehicular movement on the strategic highway was suspended until further notice.
Several vehicles parked along the roadside at Prem Nagar were trapped beneath the flood debris. Emergency teams and road maintenance authorities have launched restoration and clearance operations to remove the accumulated debris and repair the damaged stretch of the highway. Commuters have been advised to avoid the route and follow official traffic advisories until the road is declared safe for travel.
In neighbouring Kishtwar district, the intense rainfall also triggered a major landslide and mudslide near the tunnel area of the under-construction 540 MW Kwar Hydroelectric Power Project. Flash floods carried huge volumes of mud, rocks, and debris into the project site, severely affecting ongoing construction activities.
Officials said several vehicles, including trucks, dozers, and other heavy construction equipment, were buried under the debris. Construction material stored at the site also suffered extensive damage. Multiple vehicles remain trapped, and clearance operations are currently underway to retrieve the equipment and restore normalcy at the project area.
Authorities noted that the incident caused significant disruption to project operations, although no workers were reported injured.
Apart from Doda and Kishtwar, minor flash flood incidents were also reported from high-altitude areas of Reasi district following continuous rainfall.
The district administrations had earlier issued weather advisories warning of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, flash floods, and landslides across vulnerable areas of Jammu and Kashmir. Residents, particularly those living near rivers, streams, and nallahs, were urged to remain vigilant and avoid venturing into flood-prone locations.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department reported widespread rainfall across the Jammu region during the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 a.m. on Monday. Samba recorded the highest rainfall at 90 mm, followed by Kathua (66.2 mm), Katra (44.4 mm), Doda (42 mm), Jammu (41.8 mm), Udhampur (40.6 mm), Bhaderwah (33.6 mm), Kishtwar (24 mm), Reasi (10.5 mm), Batote (4.7 mm), Ramban (4.5 mm), and Banihal (0.4 mm).
Authorities continue to monitor the weather situation closely as restoration work progresses. Travelers have been advised to avoid unnecessary movement in landslide- and flood-prone areas until weather conditions improve and affected roads are reopened.
