Incessant heavy rain continued for the second successive day, resulting in further dip in the maximum temperature, in the summer capital, Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley, where weather woes would last for the next 12 hours.
Meanwhile, weather warning for scattered heavy rain and thunderstorm with 30 km to 40 km per hour gusty winds has been issued for the next 12 hours in the valley, where incessant rain since Wednesday morning has ended hot and humid conditions though people are facing some difficulties due to submerged roads.
However, officials said that there was no immediate threat of flood though water level in the river Jhelum and its tributaries has witnessed slight increase.
A Met department spokesperson told UNI that widespread moderate to heavy rain and thundershowers would occur during the next 12 hours in Kashmir valley, resulting in further dip in the temperature. “Scattered heavy rain and thundershowers with gusty winds (30 to 40 km/hour) would occur during the next 12 hours,” he said, adding the weather will improve from Friday afternoon.
Heavy rains continued to lash world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, since Wednesday morning, resulting in chilly weather conditions. The ski resort recorded 43.8 mm rainfall till 0830 hrs on Thursday. “It has been raining nonstop since Wednesday morning with a slight pause during the night… The weather has turned chilly in this ski resort though tourists, including locals, are still a miss as the authorities in Baramulla district have re-imposed lockdown,” a hotelier told UNI over the phone.
Incessant intermittent heavy rain since Wednesday morning has brought much needed relief for the people of Srinagar city from hot and humid weather though several roads, including in the civil lines, were submerged due to rain water, affecting pedestrian movement. The maximum and minimum temperature has dipped several degrees below normal in the city, where people could be seen wearing half sleeves sweaters and jackets. “Srinagar recorded 34.4 mm rainfall till 0830 hrs on Thursday,” he added.
He said Qazigund, gateway on Srinagar-Jammu national highway, which is closed for the third successive day today due to landslides and shooting stone, recorded 29 mm rainfall and Kokernag also in south Kashmir 29.8 mm rainfall till 0830 this morning. “Intermittent to moderate rainfall continued during the day also resulting in considerable drop in the maximum temperature, which remained above normal during the past over one month in the valley, including Srinagar,” he said.
World famed health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, also received incessant intermittent rain. “The health resort recorded 27.3 mm rain till 0830 hrs on Thursday,” he added.