Srinagar, May 08: Normal life remained disrupted in Kashmir after rain lashed plains and fresh snowfall occurred at higher reaches on Monday.
Higher reaches of Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Kupwara, Bandipora, Zojila, Gurez, Sonamarg, Daksun and Pir Panjal range of mountains experienced a fresh snowfall resulting in considerable drop in temperatures. While heavy rains lashed plains and continued till late Monday evening.
Director MeT Sonam Lotus told Rising Kashmir that during the past 36 hours, rain lashed plains and light snowfall occurred at higher reaches.He said due to inclement weather, day temperatures remained 10-15°C below normal at most places of J&K and there was a cold breeze in valley.
“From Tuesday, there will be significant improvement in prevailing weather conditions. We are expecting mainly clear but rain along with thunderstorms in late afternoon cannot be ruled out at some places,” he said.
Lotus said from 10th May to 15th May, weather will remain mainly dry and there will also be an increase in day temperatures in the region.
Following the cloudy weather, various parts of Kashmir on Monday witnessed a significant drop in day temperatures. Srinagar recorded 13.6 degrees Celsius as the maximum temperature and 6.7 °C as the minimum temperature.
Pahalgam settled at 8.1 °C degrees and 2.6 °C as minimum temperatures. Ski-resort Gulmarg recorded 2.2 °C as the maximum temperature and minus 0.4°C as minimum temperature.
Qazigund recorded a maximum of 11.4 degrees respectively and 4.0 degrees as minimum temperature.
Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded maximum temperatures of 9.1 degrees, while minimum temperatures settled at 5.2 degrees.
Regarding the rainfall, the MeT office informed that Srinagar received 4.8 mm, Qazigund had 5.2 mm of rainfall, Pahalgam 13.1 mm, Kupwara 6.3 mm, Kokernag 17.6 mm and Gulmarg 100 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 four districts for the next 24 hours.
The meteorological department has forecasted improvement in prevailing weather conditions from Tuesday onward, officials said.
JKDMA spokesperson said that a ‘low’ danger level avalanche is likely to occur above 3000 to 3500 metres above sea level over Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban and Baramulla districts.
“People living in these areas have been in the meantime advised to take precautions and avoid venturing in the avalanche prone areas till further orders”, he said.
Following the occurrence of avalanches at numerous locations along the Zoji La axis, the Indian Army along with Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) and General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) launched a joint operation to rescue stranded tourists on Monday.
A specially trained Avalanche Rescue Team along with medical teams was involved in evacuating stranded tourists.
“Rescue teams are equipped with emergency medical kits and all stores required for early rescue are carrying out the necessary relief work. The relief work was in progress as NH1 continued to remain closed due to multiple minor avalanches,” he said.
SSP Ramban and SSP National Highway, Mohita Sharma said that vehicular traffic remained suspended for several hours as their possibility of shooting stones and landslides.
“Heavy rains lash district Ramban. Likelihood of shooting stones and landslides. Chenab and nallas flowing above normal levels. Exercise caution,” she said.
During the past 24 hours, Jammu Srinagar National Highway remained blocked for several more hours. 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 said on Tuesday, 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, Due to bad weather prediction and snow accumulation, avalanches over Zojila axis there shall be no movements on Zojila axis from either side on 9th May 2023 & until the road is cleared by the concerned authority.
