Cloudburst triggers massive landslide in J&K's Doda, 10 houses and 25 shops damaged

A massive landslide triggered by a suspected cloudburst struck the Thathri area of Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district in the early hours of Tuesday, damaging at least 10 houses and 25 shops, burying vehicles under mud and debris, and leaving large parts of the town devastated. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries have been reported.

Heavy rainfall began around midnight and intensified through the night. By around 3 am, floodwaters, rocks, and thick layers of mud swept through the area, blocking roads, overturning vehicles, and damaging several buildings.

Doda Tahsildar Satish Rana said preliminary assessments indicate that at least 10 houses and 25 shops have been damaged.

He said the heavy rainfall, likely caused by a cloudburst, led to muddy water and debris entering residential areas, causing widespread destruction.

Residents described waking up to scenes of devastation. One local thanked Allah that no lives were lost despite extensive property damage and urged the government to conduct a detailed assessment.

Another resident, Shamauddin, said the rain intensified after midnight before floodwaters swept through the area around 3 am, washing away vehicles and leaving families without necessities.

Following the incident, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said he had spoken to the Deputy Commissioner of Doda to review the situation.

In a post on X, Sinha said he had directed the district administration to provide immediate relief and assistance to affected families and to expedite restoration work, including clearing the NH-244.

The administration is assessing damage to homes, shops and vehicles while restoration operations continue.

According to the India Meteorological Department, Doda recorded 26.6 mm of rainfall on Monday against its normal rainfall of 4.1 mm.

Several other districts, including Kishtwar, Udhampur, Reasi, Jammu, Samba and Kathua, also received excess rainfall.