Ramban, Jul 7: The Doda-Kishtwar stretch of the Batote-Doda-Kishtwar National Highway (NH-244) remained closed on Tuesday after a powerful flash flood and the resulting landslide struck the Thathri area of Doda district, disrupting connectivity to Kishtwar.
Officials said heavy overnight rainfall triggered a flash flood in Thathri, leading to a massive landslide that buried a portion of NH-244 and rendered the Doda-Kishtwar section impassable.
A Traffic Police official said the Batote-Doda stretch of the highway remained open to traffic, while the Doda-Kishtwar section was blocked at Thathri due to the landslide.
“The road has been closed for vehicular movement, and clearance and restoration work is in progress,” the official said, adding that efforts to clear the debris continued until late Tuesday evening.
Traffic authorities advised commuters to avoid travelling on the Doda-Kishtwar route until the highway is cleared and declared safe for movement.
Meanwhile, the flash flood caused extensive damage in Thathri town. Locals said floodwaters and debris swept through the area with great force during the early hours, damaging residential houses, shops and vehicles.
At least a dozen houses were completely destroyed, while several others sustained partial damage.
Multiple vehicles were also buried under debris.
However, officials said the exact extent of the damage was still being assessed.
The district administration has launched debris-clearance and restoration work at the affected site.
Authorities have also appealed to residents to avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from landslide-prone areas and follow official advisories until the highway is reopened.
Earlier, on Monday morning, the Doda-Kishtwar stretch was blocked due to flash floods and mudslides in the Prem Nagar area. However, it was reopened for one-way traffic on Monday evening.
