Srinagar, Apr 19: Normal life remained disrupted in Kashmir after rain lashed the plains for the third consecutive day on Wednesday and the higher reaches experienced fresh snowfall. The meteorological department has predicted inclement weather to continue during the next 48 hours in the region, officials said.
Director Meteorological Department Sonam Lotus told Rising Kashmir that during the past 36 hours, rain lashed plains and light snowfall occurred at higher reaches.
“We are expecting intermittent light to moderate rain at scattered places from April 20-22 and thereafter the weather mainly will remain dry till April 25,” he said.
Lotus said upper reaches of Kupwara, Bandipora, Zojila and Pir Panjal range of mountains experienced a fresh snowfall resulting in considerable drop in temperature.
He said Anantnag in south Kashmir witnessed the highest rainfall in the Valley. Summer capital Srinagar also experienced moderate rainfall disrupting normal activities on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr to be celebrated on Friday or Saturday.
Lotus said on Friday and Saturday (Eid Fitr days), there is a possibility of mainly dry and clear weather and forecast of rain during the evening hours.
Following the cloudy weather, various parts of Kashmir on Wednesday witnessed a significant drop in day temperatures. Srinagar recorded 11.5 degrees Celsius as the maximum temperature and 10.3 °C as the minimum temperature.
Pahalgam settled at 6.6 °C degrees and 5.4 °C as minimum temperatures. Ski-resort Gulmarg recorded 4.0 °C as the maximum temperature and 2.0°C as minimum temperature.
Regarding the rainfall, the MeT office said Srinagar received 16,3 mm, Qazigund had 53.4 mm of rainfall, Pahalgam 30.0 mm, Kupwara 8.0 mm, Kokernag 16.4 mm and Gulmarg 28.6 mm of rainfall during the past 24 hours.
Following the change in the current weather system, Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA) issued an avalanche alert over higher reaches in five districts for the next 24 hours.
The JKDMA said that a ‘low’ danger level avalanche is likely to occur above 2800 to 3500 metres above sea level over Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri and Ganderbal districts. People living in these areas have been in the meantime advised to take precautions and avoid venturing into avalanche-prone areas till further orders.
Following incessant rainfall for the last 36 hours led to increase in water levels of water bodies across the Valley, while officials of the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) department stated there was no threat of floods as major rainfall activity was recorded in south Kashmir.
Chief engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Er Naresh Kumar said there is not alarming situation in the Valley as of now.
“The alert level at Sangam is well below the danger mark and same is in Ram Munshi Bagh. There is no alarming flood like situation as of now and people also need not to panic,” he said.
Kumar said Tributaries in south Kashmir are filled with rainfall water, but there is no situation of floods in the valley.
Meanwhile dur to incessant rainfall, train service between Qazigund and Banihal section remained affected due to water logging at Hillar railway station in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Chief Area Manager Railways, Sakib Yousuf said that train service between Qazigund and Banihal has been suspended as a precautionary measure.
He said due to continuous rainfall for the last 24 hours caused water logging at Hiller railway station, thereby disrupting train service.
“If the water level will decrease, the train service will chug normally on Thursday,” he said.
During the past 24 hours, Jammu Srinagar National Highway remained blocked for more than 04 hours 35 mins. There was breakdown of 04 HMVs and movement of 05 nomadic flocks between Nashri and NAVYUG Tunnel also affected the traffic on the highway.
A traffic police department spokesman on Thursday, subject to fair weather and road clearance, Passenger/Private Cars shall be allowed from both sides on Jammu-Srinagar NHW viz Jammu towards Srinagar and vice-versa. TCU Jammu, Srinagar shall liaise with TCU Ramban before releasing the traffic, it said.
Similarly, the Srinagar-Leh highway will remain closed for the traffic in view of snowfall at various places along the highway.
