Doda: Flash floods were triggered due to massive cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Tuesday. Normal life was thrown out of gear with the Jammu-Srinagar highway forced to be closed. Heavy rainfall lashed out and led to landslides at multiple locations in the route.Vehicular movement was halted as landslides occurred thus leading to traffic congestion along the 250 km stretch of National Highway in Jammu and Srinagar. Shooting stones were also reported from regions of Chanderkote, Kela Morh and Battery Cheshma in Ramban district.Dozens of houses and cowsheds were reportedly damaged in upper regions of Kishtwar, Doda and Rajouri districts. The Modhopur barrage in Kathua crossed the danger mark and triggered flooding in low-lying areas along the Ravi river. The Tawi river crossed the 20-foot danger mark and Chenab river is flowing very close to the warning level.Authorities in Shimla ordered the closure of educational institutions on Tuesday after heavy overnight rainfall caused landslides, uprooted trees, and blocked several roads across the district.Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap, in an official order, stated that all government and private schools, colleges, ITIs, polytechnics, nursing institutes, and Anganwadi centres will remain closed today in view of the safety of students. The decision comes after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted heavy downpours in the region over the next 24 hours.
