J&K: Cloudburst in Doda trigger flood fears, damages road linking Kishtwar

Doda (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 22 (ANI): A massive cloudburst struck Kota Nullah in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Saturday morning, dmaging a stretch of Doda-Kishtwar road and created a flood-like situation in the area.

Viral clips from the area showed authorities trying to rescue people from the roads, amid raging flash floods.
Abdul Qayoom, SSP Doda, said a portion of Doda-Kishtwar road was washed away after a cloudburst took place in the wee hours of Saturday.

He urged locals not to step out needlessly.

“It has been raining continuously. The Doda-Kishtwar road was damaged on account of severe rainfall. However, the damaged stretch has now been repaired and traffic restored. As of now, there is no information about any casualty in the rains. I urge people not to step out of their houses unnecessarily,” said Qayoom.

Meanwhile, the water level of the Chenab River increased following a cloudburst and rainfall in the region.

Several states — Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Gujarat — are currently facing a flood-like situation following unsparing rainfall.

In Maharashtra’s Yavatmal, a Mi-17 V5 helicopter from Nagpur was deployed to evacuate 40 people, who were stranded in the floods.