Heavy rain in Jammu, water enters many localities
Temp drops at many places in J&K
Gopal Sharma/
Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Apr 8: Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH) was partially restored this evening for the stranded vehicles amidst rain in Ramban sector while with heavy rain in Jammu region this evening besides some parts of Kashmir valley and fresh snowfall on the higher reaches, further drop in temperature has been experienced.
The strategic 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was blocked by multiple landslides early Monday. Though it was reopened for a few hours on Tuesday morning, two major landslides forced its closure. At least 3000 vehicles have been stranded at various places in Jammu, Udhamopur, Dhar Road, Samba-Mansar Road, Dyala Chak-Chhallan Road, Anantnag, and other parts of Kashmir, sources said.
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The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) which was blocked during night with fresh landslides at Shalgarhi in Banihal was partially restored this evening. Only stranded vehicles at Ramban, Chanderkote, Peera, Nashri, Shan Palace Ramban and Banihal area were allowed to move. No fresh movement of traffic from Udhampur, Dhar Road, Nagrota (Jammu) from Kashmir side was allowed. It was still raining in Ramban sector late this evening and there was possibility of blockade again due to shooting stones or falling of boulders from the mountains at any point in this area, the sources said.
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DIG Traffic Jammu, Dr Hasseb Mughal, who visited Ramban and Banihal areas today, along with SSP Traffic, NH, Raja Adil Ganai and others officials told the Excelsior that National Highway which was blocked at Shalgari near Banihal and 2-3 other locations including Karol (Jaswal bridge) near Chanderkote, Nashri and Digdole has been cleared. At Shalgari only single road could be cleared.
“At present highway could be partially restored for stranded vehicles only. No movement of vehicles from Kashmir or Jamu side has been allowed. It was still raining in the area. The travelers have been advised not to move during night hours along this hilly road,” the DIG said.
Dr Mughal further said that at several places one tube is yet to be cleared. During rain it is risky, specially for the passenger vehicles to move along this mountainous road which has turned vulnerable due to rains. He said if the weather remained little stable, the fuel tankers stranded at Kud will also be allowed to move towards Kashmir during night or early morning.
He said Batote-Kishtwar road was clear while Mughal road which was reopened during the day for several hours was shut after 3 pm being slippery at the higher reaches for precautionary measures.
Heavy rain lashed Jammu and its adjoining areas this evening. Two-hour heavy downpour, with thunderstorm and hailstorm at some places, turned many parts of City water-logged. The rain water overflowing in the drains came over the roads and lanes. Nanak Nagar, Talab Tillo, Canal Road, Shashtri Nagar and many other areas witnessed more than one feet water. This affected the movement of light vehicles and two wheelers on several city roads.
Heavy rain has also been reported from Reasi, Udhampur, Samba and parts of Kathua district today.
Meanwhile, Gulmarg and other higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall today, while incessant rains lashed the valley leading to drop in the temperatures across the region.
The higher reaches of Kashmir including the popular ski-resort of Gulmarg, Kupwara and Bandipora received fresh snowfall today.
Srinagar and other areas of the Valley were lashed by incessant rains. It led to waterlogging in some low-lying areas of the Valley.
The Weatherman said that the erratic weather would continue till April 10.
He said that intermittent light to moderate rain, and snow would continue in the higher reaches till Wednesday evening, accompanied with thunder, hail and gusty winds at a few places.
“Few places in Kashmir may also receive moderate to heavy rain, while other areas in the higher reaches may witness moderate snow till Thursday morning. A brief spell of light rain/thundershower is also likely at scattered places on Thursday and Friday,” he added.
“While the weather would remain generally dry from April 11 to April 16, there is a possibility of brief spell of light rain at a few places towards afternoon and evening hours”.
“Heavy showers for a brief period may lead to flash floods/landslides at a few vulnerable places and water logging in few low-lying areas,” he added.
With the incessant rains and snowfall in the hills, the temperature across the region plummeted today and stayed several notches below normal.
Srinagar recorded 11.8 Degree Celsius, Qazigund 12.0 Degree Celsius, Pahalgam 8.6 Degree Celsius, Kupwara 11.0 Degree Celsius, Kokernag 12.4 Degree Celsius and Gulmarg 3.6 which was 7.0 Degree Celsius, 6.3 Degree Celsius, 6.7 Degree Celsius, 7.7 Degree Celsius, 4.6 Degree Celsius and 4.9 below normal respectively for these places for this time of the year.
Jammu recorded a minimum temperature of 13 degree Celsius, about 5 degrees below normal, while the day temperature again remained nearly 7 degrees below normal. Bhaderwah town recorded a day temperature of 10.7 deg C which is about 11 degrees below normal while, Katra registered a day temperature of 19.6, which was about 7.6 deg below normal today.
Reports from Doda said that damp weather conditions over the past fortnight have transformed Bhaderwah’s coniferous forests in Doda district into a harvesting cluster for a seasonal wild mushroom, opening an earning avenue for local women and offering a delicious culinary experience for others.
Kundi mushroom, or earth cup fungus, which had largely disappeared from Himalayan forests over the past few years due to prolonged dry weather, has made a strong comeback this season, growing in abundance amid the prevailing damp weather conditions.
Collecting the mushrooms from the forest and selling them to local vegetable markets fetch up to Rs 3,000 a day each for a large number of women from the Bhaderwah valley along the dense cedar forest.
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