Heli-service to Mata Vaishnodevi hit
*Jammu’s temp falls 7 deg below normal
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Apr 29: Heavy to moderate rain in many parts of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and light snowfall on the higher reaches, led to significant drop in the temperatures in the region while helicopter service to Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine from the base camp Katra, remained suspended almost throughout the day due to bad weather today.
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Official sources said that with the snowfall on the higher reaches, a few passes including Sinthan Top on the Kishtwar-Kukernag-Anantnag highway was closed while traffic on Mughal Road continued slowly despite light snowfall on the Peer Ki Gali. Higher Reaches of Gulmarg and Sonamarg-Zojila axis also received fresh snowfall, but the traffic movement continued, the sources said.
Entire Chenab region including Bhaderwah, Paddar-Gulabgarh, Chatroo, Gandoh-Bhalessa, Batote, Banihal, Gool and Ramban belt; Katra, Mahore and Reasi besides Dudu-Basatgarh-Latti, Chenani-Kud- Patnitop in Udhampur and Bani-Duggan and Machedi areas of Kathua received heavy to moderate rain while other plain and semi-hilly areas of these districts experienced light rain. Rajouri and Poonch belt also received light rain during the day today.
A few areas of Jammu district received light rainfall while clouds kept hovering over the skies of the winter capital city during the day. The Jammuites experienced hardly an-hour’s drizzle during morning hours.
With rain in the region and snowfall on the higher reaches of Pir Panjal mountains, a significant drop in the temperate has been witnessed.
A MeT official said that a sharp decline in the Jammu’s temperature has been observed as the Temple City that experienced a day temperature of above 40 degrees Celsius hardly 3-4 days ago, today recorded the maximum temperature of 28.5 deg C, about 7.2 degrees below normal. The night temperature in the City, however, remained 20.6 deg C on Wednesday.
Katra town experienced a maximum temperature of 23 Deg C and minimum 18.2; Bhaderwah a day temperature of 14.2 and night 9.0 deg C; Batote a maximum temperature of 13.1 deg C, about 11.6 deg below normal and minimum 12.6 while Banihal town registered a day temperature of 13.9 deg C, 11 degrees below normal.
Srinagar city and many parts of the valley also experienced light rain during the day. A drop in the temperature has been witnessed in the entire Valley. Srinagar recorded a day temperature of 16.7 deg C, Gulmarg 12.0, Pahalgam 12.6 and Kukernag 13.2 deg C today.
The weatherman said that on April 30, the weather will partly remain cloudy with brief spell of light rain/ thunder at few places towards late afternoon. On May 1-2, it will generally remain dry with brief showers in the evening.
From May 3 to 5, the weather will generally remain cloudy with one or two spells of light rain/ thunder shower at scattered to many places, towards afternoon/evening hours in the region.
Reports said that helicopter service to Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine from base camp Katra remained suspended due to rain and bad weather. The service was resumed briefly during afternoon but it was again suspended due to clouds and bad weather. This disrupted the by-air pilgrimage, however, the on-foot yatra continued despite rain.
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