* IMD predicts above normal rainfall in July-Aug
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, June 21: The Monsoon today hit the J&K State 10 days ahead of declared schedule of July 1 by the IMD authorities, causing havoc in Jammu areas during early morning. The heavy rain brought big relief to the people here from the scorching heat as the temperature dropped down by nearly 5 degree Celsius in the winter capital.
It was just first heavy rain of the Monsoon season, which wrecked havoc in many city areas here, totally exposing the tall claims of the Jammu Municipal Corporation and UEED. Due to choked nallahs and drains, the water entered many localities including Krishna Nagar, Canal Road, Jewel Chowk, Talab Tillo, Janipur, Naseeb Nagar, Bhagwati Nagar, Nanak Nagar, Preet Nagar, Channi Rama, Pamposh Colony, Gangyal and parts of Shastri Nagar besides other areas, causing extensive damage to the public property. The rain water entered many houses and shops and damaged public property including electronic gadgets .
Due to breach in the nallah near Science College, flowing down from Jewel Chowk side, the water entered the MA stadium during heavy downpour for about two hours in the morning. It was water and water every where and many vehicles started floating in the large water pool created at the stadium. The water level was nearly 3 to 4 feet in the area. Several bikes got marooned and over a dozen cars were seen floating in water. The dirt and filth of the city nallahs spread all over the stadium and GGM Science College ground.
Director IMD J&K, Sonum Lotus told the Excelsior that on the basis of today’s heavy rainfall experienced in Jammu areas, the IMD declared the arrival of Monsoon in J&K 10 days ahead of its declared schedule of July 1. It is also for the general information of the people that IMD has predicted above normal rainfall during this Monsoon season.
A Met spokesman said that light to moderate rain is likely during next 24 hours in the Jammu and Kashmir State while some places in plains of Jammu may also receive a spell of heavy shower during next 24 hours.
He further revealed that Jammu recorded a maximum temperature of 32.8 degree Celsius and minimum 20.8 degree Celsius and rainfall of 6.9 mm today. After rain in the morning, a fall of nearly 5 degree Celsius in Jammu’s temperature has been experienced.
Holy township of Katra recorded a temperature of 30.3 degree Celsius and minimum 20.5 degrees and rainfall of 7.6 mm. Batote recorded a rainfall of 8.2 mm today. Srinagar and Jammu’s minimum temperature was almost similar ( 20.4 deg C and 20.8 deg C), while Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 31.3 degree C today which indicated that there was difference of just 1.5 degree Celsius between the temperature of Srinagar and Jammu today.
Bhaderwah recorded a maximum temperature of 26.8 degree Celsius and minimum 18.2 degree Celsius while Leh a maximum 30.4 Degree Celsius and minimum 17.3 degree Celsius today.
Reports in Jammu city said that a nallah in Channi Rama area washed away several lanes and entered many houses. About 4-5 feet deep large drain has been created in the main lane. About half a dozen vehicles were also washed away in the flooded nallah created there.
The locals alleged that despite several requests to the JMC authorities no protection work was done in the area and nearly 1500 families have been affected with the rain and flood today in this locality. No one from administration or JMC except former MLA Raman Bhalla visited them, the people said. They said ERA which had taken up the construction work of this nallah abandoned it due to the reasons best known to the senior officers. They also criticized JMC for its attitude of neglect.
Similarly, the water also entered many houses and shops in sector No 9 of Nanak Nagar, Preet Nagar, Gangyal, Krishna Nagar, Canal Road and Talab Tilloo. The people expressed strong resentment against the JMC authorities alleging that it failed to take much needed measures before the onset of Monsoon season.
The drains and nallahs were not properly cleared before the rainy season. ERA executed digging work in many city areas including Janipur, Excelsior Lane, Lakkar Mandi, Sarwal, Rehari etc and left the dug areas Kutcha. Now with this rain, the ‘kutcha’ material has been washed away and it created deep drains, causing inconvenience to the public. The senior officers were informed about the matter before hand but they did not go for the blacktopping of these road patch areas on the plea that it has been left deliberately to settle down the fresh `mulba’.
In Krishna Nagar area, the main nallah near Guru Ravi Dass temple wrecked havoc and the water also entered the temple premises and another temple in the same vicinity. Several bikes and scooters parked in the lanes also got damaged and a few washed away. The water logging in city localities including Canal Road, Jewel Chowk and Talab Tilloo affected the movement of traffic for several hours. The flash flood in seasonal nallahs around Jammu, Akhnoor, Nagrota and Samba areas also disrupted traffic for several hours today.
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