A flash flood triggered by heavy early morning rainfall disrupted traffic on the National Highway at Prem Nagar in Doda district on Sunday, forcing authorities to suspend vehicular movement for nearly four hours before restoring one-way traffic.
According to local reports, heavy rainfall between approximately 4:00 AM and 5:00 AM caused a nearby seasonal stream (nallah) to overflow. The surge of water carried mud, boulders and debris onto the National Highway, resulting in a flash flood and mudslide that completely blocked the road.
Road clearance teams and local authorities launched restoration work immediately, following which one lane was reopened for vehicular movement. However, long traffic queues were witnessed on the highway due to the ongoing Machail Mata Yatra, as thousands of pilgrims continue to travel through the route.
Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported in the latest incident.
The incident once again underlines the increasing frequency of extreme weather events across the mountainous districts of Jammu & Kashmir. Over the past several years, the Chandrabhaga Region—including Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban—has witnessed repeated flash floods, cloudbursts, landslides and lightning strikes, resulting in significant loss of life, infrastructure damage and disruption of connectivity.
Only recently, a woman lost her life after being struck by lightning in the Kashi area of Doda district, while several sheep also died in the same incident. The tragedy served as another reminder of the dangers posed by severe weather during the monsoon season.
One of the worst disasters in the region occurred in August 2025, when a devastating cloudburst struck Chashoti village on the Machail Mata Yatra route in Kishtwar district. The disaster claimed 68 lives, injured hundreds of people and 36 persons are still officially reported missing, making it one of the deadliest weather-related tragedies in the region's recent history.
Another major incident occurred near Katra during the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, where a rain-triggered landslide claimed the lives of 35 pilgrims. Rescue operations were later concluded with no officially confirmed missing persons remaining.
Experts believe the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, combined with changing weather patterns and intense rainfall events, is increasing the vulnerability of hill districts to flash floods, landslides and cloudbursts. While the administration regularly issues weather advisories, travel alerts and traffic warnings, the unpredictable nature of these disasters continues to pose serious challenges for both authorities and commuters.
With the monsoon season underway and pilgrim movement increasing across Jammu & Kashmir, travellers are advised to strictly follow official weather bulletins, road safety advisories and traffic updates before undertaking journeys through mountainous regions. Avoiding travel during periods of heavy rainfall and remaining alert in landslide- and flood-prone areas can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and loss of life.