Jammu, June 3 -- Intense rains, misconstrued as cloudbursts by locals in Kishtwar district, triggered multiple mudslides on NH 244 on the Doda-Kishtwar stretch, trapping several vehicles, especially in the Thathri area.

The locals claimed that there were two cloudbursts in Kishtwar district--one at Gahan in Sarthal and another at Machipal.

The rains also caused landslides on the NH 244 at Drabshalla's Zero Point, halting traffic and forcing people to cross the affected stretch on foot. It further flooded the creeks and rivulets in the hilly district and as a result inundated roads with flood water, mudslides and boulders at various places.

IMD's incharge-director Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said that no cloudbursts occurred in Kishtwar or Doda di...