Hailstorm in Jammu areas
Gopal Sharma/
Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, May 24: A woman was washed away in flooded river near Poonch while another was rescued, two youth trapped in flooded river at Rajouri were saved by SDRF men whereas, heavy rain across J&K disrupted normal life and brought down the soaring temperature.
The people in Jammu and adjoining areas heaved a sigh of relief as after heavy rain and hail-storm this afternoon, a sharp fall in temperature was experienced by the people. For the last two-three days, the heat wave had gripped the entire Jammu region. Massive hail-storm in Sainik Colony, Greater Kailash and adjoining areas, appeared like ‘light snowfall’ in summer in the Temple City.
Rain also lashed Kashmir today while the Meteorological Department forecast more precipitation for the next two days. Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley received rainfall since last night.
A MeT official said that there will be intermittent rain, thunderstorms and snowfall over higher reaches at most places. “Possibility of hailstorm and strong gusty winds at a few places can’t be ruled out,” he said.
“On May 25-26, the weather will be generally cloudy. A brief spell of rain/thunderstorm may occur towards late afternoon, evening,” he said. He further said from May 27-30, weather will be “partly to generally cloudy.”
Reports from Poonch said that two women hailing from Degwar village were washed away when they were crossing Betar river. It was raining heavily in the upper reaches and the water level was rising in the river. Some people saw them and raised alarm. While one of them was rescued, the other was washed away.
Later, the police and SDRF men along with villagers launched search operation but her body could not be traced till late this evening. The locals belived that she might have been washed away on that side of the LoC in PoJK. The PoJK authorities on that side of the Chakkan Da Bagh were sounded about the incident, the police said.
The police claimed that Naseem Akhtar (30), wife of Safeer Hussain from Degwar village was rescued while the other one namely, Kulzam Bi, wife of Mohd Sadiq was washed away. Her body could not be traced till late this evening.
In Rajouri, the weather changed once again and rain and hailstorm continued in the hilly areas of the district. A sudden flash flood in Sukhoi river flowing through Rajouri town left two persons trapped in the river, who were later rescued after a strenuous efforts by the State Disaster Response Team led by DySP Headquarters Mudassar Hussain and SHO Rajouri Shokat Choudhary. Police said that due to heavy rains in the hilly areas, the water flow suddenly increased in the Darhali river and with this Sukhoi river flowing in Rajouri city was also flooded.
Two people namely Ankush Kumar, son of Dharam Pal, resident of Dharamsal and Sunil Kumar, from Patiala in Punjab, at present Bus Stand area Rajouri, who were crossing the river in Salani area of the city, got trapped. They were later rescued after hard work by SDRF and local police.
Meanwhile, a horse was killed due to flash flood in the Nallah in Thannamandi area today. Police said horse of Safeer Shah, son of Rasool Shah, resident of Charung was washed away in flooded Nallah and was killed.
In view of the bad weather, DC Rajouri Vikas Kundal and SSP Amritpal Singh issued advisory asking people not to venture out near the flooded rivers and Nallahs.
Meanwhile, Srinagar recorded a low of 13.5°C against 14.8°C the previous night and it was 1.8°C above normal for the city.
Qazigund, recorded a low of 12.6°C against 10.8°C on the previous night and it was above normal by 2.3°C for town.
Pahalgam recorded a low of 9.2°C against 10.2°C on the previous night and it was 3.0°C above normal for the tourist resort.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at 12.4°C against 12.6°C the previous night and it was 2.0°C above normal for the town.
Kokernag recorded a low of 11.4°C against 11.6°C the previous night and it was 1.3°C above normal for the place.
Gulmarg recorded a low of 6.0°C against 9.0°C previous night and it was below normal by 0.8°C for the skiing resort.
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