Gopal Sharma
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, May 26: Heavy rain and hail storm across Jammu region has brought some temporary relief for the people from scorching heat while fresh snowfall on the higher reaches in Kashmir and rains have forced the people to wear woolen clothes while traffic came to halt on Jammu-Srinagar and Leh highway after land slides this evening.
Due to fresh snow fall in Peer Panjal area, the authorities closed the Mughal Road from Poonch side this afternoon. Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Sajjad Ahmed Khan disclosed that due to fresh snow fall and slippery conditions from Chatta Pani to Pir Gali and ahead at certain patches, the movement of traffic on Mughal Road was stopped after 3.30 pm today.
DIG Traffic Jagjeet Kumar told Excelsior that Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed this evening due to mud/ land slides in Ramban area. He said the BRO has pressed its men and machinery for road clearance. He said the heavy rains also triggered slides at Zojila forcing the traffic authorities to close Srinagar-Leh Highway this afternoon.
The winter capital city which recorded the temperature between 45 and 46 degree Celsius during last couple of days, today witnessed day temperature of 39.6 degree Celsius while the minimum temperature of 27.1 degree Celsius as per SKAUST-J observatory. The day temperature in Jammu had gone 6 to 7 degree Celsius above normal, restricting the movement of the people outside in last couple of days.
Reports from Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi and Udhampur said that heavy hail-Storm and rain was witnessed besides continuous rains today. In Samba and Kathua areas there was a little rain and wind storm. In Dandot- Budhal and Chasana area of Mahore, about 100 gms `golf ball’ sized hails were witnessed. In Mahore, Dharmari, Arnas, Reasi, Katra, Pancheri and higher reaches of Udhampur similar hailstorm was witnessed.
The massive wind storm in many parts including Mendhar, Nowshera, Sunderbani, Akhnoor, Marh, R S Pura, Jammu, Samba, Suchetgarh and other parts of Jammu also caused some damage to poles and electric wires, disrupting power supply. Many trees were also uprooted at several places causing temporary road blockades. The over all intensity of windstorm was ranging from 30 to 40 km/hour in these areas.
The continuous rain since this morning in parts of Kashmir resulted in considerable drop in the temperature, forcing people to wear woolen clothes, in the Valley, including summer capital, Srinagar.
A Met Department spokesperson said this afternoon that light to moderate rain would occur at many places over Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours. He said during the subsequent four days, there would be decrease in precipitation.
After witnessing several degree above normal maximum and minimum temperature during the past about one week, heavy to moderate rains in the Kashmir valley, brought down the temperature.
Meanwhile, a shepherd was washed away in flooded Vesu stream at Pir Panjal mountains. He was moving along with his flock of sheep when the incident took place. Identified as Samad Chopan, son of Jabbar, resident of Panipura, he got trapped in big rocks and rescue operation was launched by police and Army.
In yet another incident a culvert was washed away due to rains and flood at Kaloosa on Sopore-Bandipor road this afternoon. Several rivulets across Kashmir have swollen due to rains. Another bridge was under water at Athwart. One Farooq Sheikh of Mujapathri died due to lightening, a police spokesman said.
People were seen wearing woolens again in Valley while ‘kangri’ and other electrical gadgets were also out for heating purpose as fresh snowfall was reported at Sonamarg, Gulmarg and parts of North Kashmir.
In Jammu, the people stopped the ACs and Coolers as after heavy rains the weather turned pleasant in the evening. The fans were enough to give them relief. The children were witnessed bathing in the rain to get some respite.
A Met office spokesman said the maximum temperature was 27.6 degree Celsius yesterday in summer capital, which was three degree above normal. The minimum temperature was recorded as 16.8 degree C which was around 8 degrees below normal.
A number of roads and by-lanes in the capital cities of Srinagar and also in Jammu were flooded with rain water due to faulty drainage system. There was water logging at several localities in both cities and it affected normal movement of traffic. The Jammu witnessed 8.0 mm rain while Srinagar 13.1 mm rainfall today, a Met spokesman said.
Chief Scientist SKAUST- Jammu, Dr M K Khushu (Met Deptt) disclosed that the windstorm and hail storm in this part of northern region is due to western disturbances. He said 7.2 mm rain in parts of Jammu has provided a big relief to the people here for next couple of days. He said the dry spell in past over two weeks has also reduced the risk of certain ailments among the people. The dust has settled down at least for some couple of days and rain and thunder storm is expected at several places across Jammu region in next 24 hours.
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