In the aftermath of the devastating cloudburst and flash floods that caused widespread destruction in Thathri town, an official complaint submitted weeks earlier to the Deputy Commissioner, Doda, alleging illegal dumping of construction debris into a local nallah and other environmental violations has surfaced, drawing fresh attention to concerns raised by local residents before the disaster.
The complaint, bearing No. DG/12606/624 dated June 18, 2026, was submitted by the inhabitants of Thathri through social worker Bilal Ahmed. It alleged that the contractor executing the PMGSY road from Water Point to ST Basti Lopa (Badanoo Link Road) had been illegally dumping excavated debris into the Thathri nallah and on private land, besides allegedly altering the road alignment without the consent of affected landowners.
According to the representation, the residents expressed serious apprehension that continuous dumping of debris into the nallah could obstruct its natural flow, significantly increasing the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall. Referring to the devastating floods of 2017, in which several lives were lost, they warned that a similar tragedy could recur if environmental norms were ignored and indiscriminate dumping continued.
The complainants further alleged that changes had been made to the original survey and road alignment without the consent of the common public and the concerned departments, resulting in additional acquisition of private land and causing financial loss to the government. The letter also claimed that a public water filtration plant, drinking water supply line, footpath and drain had been damaged during the execution of the project without obtaining permission from the concerned authorities.
The complaint further stated that despite repeated representations to the contractor and the concerned PMGSY officials, no corrective action had been taken. It alleged that the designated dumping site had not been identified through the Revenue Department, as required under prevailing norms, and that excavated material continued to be dumped into the Thathri nallah. The residents sought a detailed inquiry into the alleged change in survey and alignment, identification of the authorised dumping site, and action against all those found responsible. They also requested that payments to the contractor be withheld until the matter was investigated.
Significantly, official endorsements on the complaint reveal that the Deputy Commissioner, Doda, acted upon the representation by marking and forwarding it to the Executive Engineer, PMGSY Division Thathri, directing the department to take immediate necessary action, ensure adherence to the prescribed rules and regulations, and prevent dumping of debris near the road alignment by following proper disposal norms.
The resurfacing of the complaint assumes significance after the devastating cloudburst that struck the upper reaches of Thathri during the intervening night of July 6 and 7, triggering flash floods that caused extensive destruction across the town. The disaster damaged 13 residential houses, 15 shops, one private school building and around 20 vehicles, while one woman sustained injuries. Fortunately, no loss of life was reported.
Although there is no official finding establishing a direct link between the extent of damage caused by the cloudburst and the allegations contained in the complaint, its emergence has intensified public demand for a comprehensive and scientific investigation into whether any environmental violations, improper debris disposal or obstruction of natural drainage channels may have aggravated the impact of the flash floods.
Residents have urged the administration to conduct an impartial inquiry into the allegations raised in the complaint, assess whether prescribed environmental and construction norms were adhered to during the execution of the PMGSY project, and fix accountability if any negligence or violations are established.
The allegations contained in the complaint remain subject to official verification, and the outcome of any departmental inquiry is awaited.
