Heavy overnight rains wreaked havoc in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, triggering a massive landslide near the under-construction 540 MW Kwar Hydroelectric Power Project that buried several vehicles under debris, while flash floods and landslides forced the closure of the Jammu-Kishtwar National Highway.
Efforts are underway to remove the debris, repair the affected area and safely take out the trapped vehicles. Meanwhile, the Jammu-Kishtwar National Highway in Doda has been shut at Prem Nagar in Doda since Sunday night amid heavy downpour and landslides.
Officials had previously issued a weather advisory warning of heavy rainfall and landslides across vulnerable areas of Jammu and Kashmir, with Samba recording the highest rainfall at 90 mm during the 24 hours ending Monday.
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Several cars and trucks remain trapped under mud and boulders at Prem Nagar and the project site, though authorities confirmed no loss of life or injuries resulted from the flash floods.
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The flash flood occurred after intense rain that caused surge of water, slush and rocks burying vehicles and machinery under the debris.
Officials said that a portion of the highway was damaged, forcing the suspension of traffic.
Flash flood incidents were also reported from high-altitude areas of Reasi district, officials said.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh was in touch with the J&K administration. He wrote on X “Just now spoke to Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar after receiving the news from Kishtwar about the flash flood waters gushing into the premises of under construction 540 mw Kwar project”.
“Luckily there is no loss of life or property. Some of the project machinery has also been removed without any damage”.
“Overall, every component of the under construction project remains intact without any damage whatsoever”, he added.
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