Huge quantity of mud, big boulders and debris were deposited on the highway following the flash floods, causing extensive damage to about a dozen vehicles and a few structures/shops.

Reports said at around 4 am a cloudburst in Prem Nagar area, triggered flash flood. The massive flood washed away stones, boulders and mud from the hillock and caused extensive damage to the Batote-Doda-Kishtwar highway. Several vehicles including three trucks, two buses, three mini-buses and about half a dozen light motor vehicles/ autorikshaws, parked along the road got trapped and suffered damages.

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Officials said that a portion of the highway was damaged at Prem Nagar after flashflood, forcing the suspension of traffic. Several vehicles parked along the road side were trapped in the flood debris. However, no loss of life or injuries were reported, they said.

They said the road clearance and restoration work was launched by highway authorities at around 9 am. Several senior officials from District Headquarters also arrived to supervise the restoration operation. The highway was restored at around 1 pm.

In Kishtwar district, the cloudburst triggered heavy flash flood followed by a major landslide and mudslide near the tunnel area of the under-construction 540 MW Kwar hydroelectric project.

Officials said flash floods carried large volumes of mud and boulders into the project area, burying several vehicles, including dumpers, dozers and other construction equipment, besides damaging construction material.

Multiple vehicles sustained extensive damage and remained trapped under the debris, they said, adding clearance operation was launched during morning to retrieve the trapped vehicles and machines. The road leading to project site was also damaged due to flash flood and it was restored during afternoon.

Minor flash flood incidents were also reported from high-altitude areas of Udhampur and Reasi district.

The road was again damaged at Bup Sarar sliding area on Chenani-Latti-Dudu road due to overnight rain and many vehicles remained stranded. Later, during the day when weather improved a JCB was pressed into service and the traffic was restored on the road.

Union Minister in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh wrote on X , " Just spoken to Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, after receiving the news from Kishtwar about flashflood, water gushing into the premises of under construction 540 MW Kwar Hydroelecrtric Project. Luckily, there was no loss of life."

Reports said the administration had earlier issued a weather advisory warning of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, flash floods and landslides in vulnerable areas of Jammu and Kashmir, urging people, particularly those living near riverbanks and nallahs, to remain alert and avoid unsafe locations.

During early hours today besides Doda and Kishtwar, parts of Udhampur, Reasi, Samba, Kathua and Jammu also received moderate to heavy rainfall. River Ujh, Basanter, Tawi and many Nallahs were flooded during morning hours. However, the weather improved during the day.

According to the Meteorological department, Samba recorded the highest rainfall in Jammu region during past 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Monday with 90 mm, followed by Kathua 66.2 mm, Katra 44.4 mm, Doda 42 mm, Jammu 41.8 mm, Udhampur 40.6 mm, Bhaderwah 33.6 mm, Kishtwar 24 mm, and Reasi 10.5 mm.

At Katra Mata Vaishnodevi despite rain during morning hours, Yatra continued. The bad weather caused some delay in the operation of helicopter service during morning hours. However, it was later resumed and continued during the whole day.

Meanwhile, a MeT official said that from July 6 to 8 the weather will generally remain cloudy with one or two spells of light to moderate rain/thundershower at many places with heavy rain/ brief intense heavy showers/thunder at few places of Jammu division mainly towards late afternoon /evening and late night/early morning hours.

He further said that many districts of Kashmir Division may also receive light to moderate rain at many places with brief intense showers at few places mainly towards afternoon & early morning/morning hrs.

From July 9-12 the weather shall generally remain hot and humid with one or two spells of light to moderate rain/thundershower at many places with brief intense heavy showers/thunder at few places.

The official further said that possibility of heavy rainfall/brief intense heavy showers during July 6-8 at few places generally towards afternoon hours and early morning may generate localised flash floods and landslides/mudslides at few vulnerable places of Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal region. The general public has been advised to stay away from Nallas/streams and landslides/mudslide prone areas.