A cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Tuesday killed four people and damaged several houses. The sudden downpour triggered flash floods, sweeping away roads and leaving families stranded. Officials confirmed that more than 10 houses were damaged as rescue teams rushed to the affected villages.
The incident came just days after similar cloudbursts in Kathua and Kishtwar. Local people said the rains began suddenly and turned into heavy flooding within minutes. A senior official said, “There is a flood alert in the Jammu region, and people are advised to stay away from water bodies and landslide-prone areas.”
Rain Brings Life to a Standstill
The heavy rain has disrupted daily life across the Jammu division. Authorities ordered all government and private schools to remain shut on Tuesday. Traffic along the busy Jammu-Srinagar national highway was suspended because of landslides and shooting stones.
#WATCH | J&K | Flood alert sounded in Jammu as Tawi river swells due to heavy rainfall in the region
Jammu DIG Shiv Kumar Sharma says, “A flood alert has been sounded. The Administration has appealed to the public to avoid going near rivers and nallahs. The traffic is operating… pic.twitter.com/sdaTMp6g2C
— ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2025
In Doda, a key road was washed away after a local stream overflowed its banks. Rescue teams are struggling to reach cut-off villages. The River Tawi and several other streams are already flowing above danger levels. Officials said water levels may rise further through the night.
Weather Department Warns of More Rain
The Meteorological Department has warned of more heavy to very heavy rainfall across several districts. These include Kathua, Samba, Doda, Jammu, Ramban, and Kishtwar. Authorities have warned that cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides are likely in hilly and high-altitude areas.
Rescue and relief teams are on high alert. Equipment has been moved to vulnerable areas to respond quickly if the situation worsens.
Record Rainfall in Jammu
The rainfall this week has broken records in many places. Kathua received the heaviest rain in the region, with 155.6 mm in the past 24 hours. Bhaderwah in Doda recorded 99.8 mm, Jammu city 81.5 mm, and Katra 68.8 mm.
Over the weekend, Jammu recorded 190.4 mm of rain in just 24 hours. This was the second-highest August rainfall in 100 years. The highest was 228.6 mm on August 5, 1926. The previous second-highest was 189.6 mm, recorded on August 11, 2022.
Situation in Kashmir
In Kashmir, heavy rains lashed the southern districts and higher reaches. Central Kashmir reported light to moderate showers, while north Kashmir saw only light rain or dry weather. Water levels in the Jhelum River are expected to rise, though no flood alert has been issued yet.
Authorities have advised citizens to exercise caution. Residents were warned to stay inside, stay away from rivers and streams, and avoid needless travel. In the event that there are major evacuations, relief camps are being set up.
