Cloudburst triggers flash floods in Doda, houses damaged

Doda, Aug 26: A cloudburst struck Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, damaging over ten houses and triggering flash floods, officials said.

The sudden, intense downpour led to heavy flooding in low-lying areas, forcing authorities to step up rescue preparedness. However, no loss of life has been reported so far.

The development came as the Meteorological Department issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rain across Kathua, Samba, Doda, Jammu, Ramban and Kishtwar.

Officials said water levels in major rivers and streams, already flowing above danger marks in several places, were expected to rise further during the night.

River Tawi is in spate and authorities issued a flood alert across the region, advising locals to stay away from water bodies and landslide-prone areas.

In response to the worsening weather, all government and private schools across Jammu division were ordered shut. Traffic along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway also came to a halt after landslides and shooting stones blocked several stretches.

Meanwhile, Kashmir Valley witnessed moderate to heavy rainfall in southern districts and heavy downpours over higher reaches. Light to moderate showers were reported in central Kashmir, while north Kashmir remained relatively dry. Although no flood alert was issued for river Jhelum, officials confirmed that water levels were rising. [KNT]