Flash floods hit Chenab Valley

Jammu, Jul 6: Flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy overnight rainfall disrupted normal life in the Chenab Valley on Monday, blocking the Doda–Kishtwar National Highway, burying several vehicles under debris near the under-construction 540 MW Kwar Hydroelectric Power Project and affecting traffic, including the annual Machail Yatra.
Officials said floodwaters carrying mud, rocks and boulders swept across National Highway-244 at Prem Nagar in Doda district, damaging a portion of the road and bringing traffic to a complete halt.
Vehicles were stranded on both sides of the highway as restoration work was launched to clear the accumulated debris and reopen the road.
The highway closure also disrupted the ongoing Machail Yatra, prompting authorities to advise pilgrims and other commuters to avoid the route until it was declared safe for travel.
In neighbouring Kishtwar district, heavy rainfall triggered a major landslide near the tunnel area of the under-construction 540 MW Kwar Hydroelectric Power Project.
Several vehicles parked near the project site were buried under mud and debris, while many sustained extensive damage.
Officials said debris clearance operations were initiated immediately to retrieve the trapped vehicles and restore normal movement in the affected area. No casualties or injuries were reported in either of the incidents.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Centre in Srinagar forecast generally cloudy conditions with intermittent light to moderate rain and thundershowers across Jammu and Kashmir over the next few days.
It said a few places, particularly in the Jammu division, could receive heavy rainfall or brief spells of intense showers during the late afternoon, evening and early morning hours.
The weather office said many areas of Kashmir were also likely to receive light to moderate rainfall with isolated intense showers during the afternoon and morning hours.
Similar weather conditions, accompanied by hot and humid weather between rain spells, were expected to continue from July 9 to 12.
The MeT department warned that heavy rainfall between July 6 and 8 could trigger localized flash floods, landslides and mudslides at vulnerable locations, particularly in the Chenab Valley and the Pir Panjal range. It advised people to stay away from streams, seasonal nallahs and landslide-prone areas.
Independent weather forecasters also cautioned that the interaction between a weak Western Disturbance and active monsoon winds could produce sudden heavy showers over parts of Jammu and Kashmir during the next three days.
They said the risk of high-intensity rainfall along the Amarnath Yatra routes through Pahalgam and Sonamarg would remain elevated, while isolated cloudburst-like events and landslides could not be ruled out. (KNO)