Thathri, June 2, 2026: A suspected cloudburst and intense rainfall triggered widespread mudslides and flash flooding across Thathri and adjoining areas of Doda district on June 2, 2026, damaging around 20 houses, partially affecting another 30, injuring four students, disrupting emergency medical transport, and blocking the vital Thathri–Gandoh road for nearly three hours.
The incident occurred at around 3:45 PM when intense rainfall struck the town and surrounding hillsides. Residents and eyewitnesses described the event as a cloudburst, pointing to a clearly visible impact zone above Zea Abad where a massive torrent of mud, rocks, and debris descended the slope. While no official confirmation of a cloudburst was issued by authorities, local residents said the pattern of destruction resembled previous cloudburst incidents witnessed in the region.
One of the worst-hit locations was the Zea Abad area of Thathri, where a major mudslide damaged residential structures and caused extensive losses to Madrasa Zia-ul-Uloom. The institution suffered significant property damage as mud and debris swept through the area following hillside erosion. Preliminary local assessments indicated that around 20 houses were fully damaged while nearly 30 others suffered partial damage due to mudslides and associated impacts.
At RP Gate in Thathri town, floodwaters and debris inundated roads and residential areas, leaving vehicles stranded and creating panic among residents. Visuals from the scene showed muddy floodwaters carrying rocks and debris through populated areas while local residents struggled to move to safer locations.
The Chenab Times conducted continuous ground reporting from the affected areas, documenting conditions from the onset of the disaster through rescue and recovery efforts. During the coverage, police personnel informed reporters about a child reportedly trapped inside a house affected by a mudslide, prompting immediate rescue efforts in the locality.
Rescue operations were undertaken jointly by local residents, police personnel, civil administration officials, health workers, and volunteers associated with the Ababeel NGO. Volunteers assisted in evacuating stranded residents, clearing pathways, and helping injured individuals reach medical facilities.
The rainfall also caused major disruptions along the Thathri–Kilhotran Road, commonly known as the Thathri–Gandoh Road. Multiple landslides and mudslides struck the stretch between Donadi and Thathri, blocking traffic at several locations and effectively cutting off connectivity between upper areas and the district headquarters.
The route, which normally takes around 20 minutes to traverse, became nearly impassable. Due to repeated road blockages and ongoing clearance operations, commuters reported spending up to three hours navigating the affected stretch.
Among those impacted were five ambulances that became stranded because of road closures. Two ambulances were transporting routine patients, including pregnant women and other individuals requiring medical attention, while three ambulances were carrying critically injured patients. Some referral patients were reportedly being transported from SDH Gandoh towards Government Medical College (GMC) Doda when the road was blocked.
The situation became more critical following a separate road accident reported in the Gandoh area on the same day. The accident left three persons critically injured and two others with minor injuries, increasing pressure on emergency services already responding to the weather-related crisis.
In another incident linked to the severe weather conditions, four school students sustained injuries after the vehicle they were travelling in became trapped in a mudslide along the Thathri–Kilhotran Road. The injured students were initially shifted to CHC Thathri for treatment before being referred to GMC Doda for specialised medical care.
Sub-divisional administration officials deployed multiple JCB machines to clear mudslides and restore connectivity. Continuous clearance operations were undertaken at several locations between Donadi and Thathri. According to local residents, three to four JCBs remained engaged in road restoration efforts throughout the evening.
Officials, including the SDM Thathri, BMO Thathri, SHO Thathri, police personnel, health workers, and revenue officials, were present in affected areas to coordinate rescue and relief measures. Traffic movement was gradually restored after sustained clearance operations, and the road was reported to be fully reopened by around 7:00 PM.
Public representatives and senior officials later visited affected areas to assess the damage. MLA Doda visited the affected localities on June 3, while the Deputy Commissioner visited the area on June 5 to review losses and relief requirements.
No fatalities were reported in connection with the incident. However, the event highlighted the growing vulnerability of mountain communities in the Chenab Valley to extreme weather events, flash floods, and landslides. The widespread damage to homes, educational institutions, road infrastructure, and essential services underscored the need for improved disaster preparedness, slope stabilisation measures, early warning mechanisms, and resilient infrastructure in the region.
The incident occurred in the Chenab Valley, a mountainous region of Jammu and Kashmir that remains highly vulnerable to landslides, flash floods, earthquakes and slope failures. The widespread damage caused by the June 2 event highlighted the vulnerability of settlements, educational institutions, roads and emergency services to extreme weather events in the region. The incident also underscored the need for improved disaster preparedness, slope stabilisation measures, early warning systems and resilient infrastructure in mountain communities.
The Chenab Times documented the disaster through continuous ground reporting and a 1-hour 43-minute livestream covering rescue operations, stranded ambulances, road clearance efforts, affected households and the response of officials and volunteers. The livestream serves as a visual record of the disaster and the challenges faced by residents during the emergency.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
