Srinagar: Widespread rainfall on Wednesday broke the prolonged dry spell in Jammu and Kashmir
However, rains triggered landslides blocking the Srinagar-Jammu National highway for the second day.
As per the MeT department, till 2:30 pm, Qazigund, the gateway of Kashmir received 17.8mm of rains.
Summer capital city of Srinagar received 12.9mm, while Kupwara in north Kashmir received 10.2mm rainfall.
In Jammu division, Banihal received 19.0mm rains, while Batote and Jammu received 17.0mm and 9.0 mm rains respectively.
Heavy rains caused flash floods in the Navajan village of Kangan district damaging the standing paddy crop.
Cloud burst was reported from Nowshera area of Sarigufwara in Anantnag district.
Heavy rainfall triggered shooting stones at Panthial, Trishul Mod, Marog, Monkey Mod, Iron Shed Digol, Anokhy Fall and Battery Chashma along the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.
The highway had resumed for one way traffic on Saturday after remaining closed for two days.
“The road clearance is underway. The possibility of re-opening the highway today is very less given the weather forecast. There are many vehicles stranded on the highway. These stranded vehicles will be cleared as soon as highway reopens for traffic,” said an official from the Traffic Control Room, Srinagar.
Fresh rainfall also increased the water level in Jhelum. As per the Irrigation and Flood Control Department Kashmir, the water level at Sangam gauge was 3.76ft. Likewise, the water level at Pampore was 0.21m, Ram Munshi Bagh 5.53 ft and Asham 4.03ft.
While the fresh rainfall brought relief to Kashmir, Jammu division witnessed spontaneous waterlogging and flash floods which washed away some bridges and damaged other property.
A man was killed while infrastructure including electricity system and bridges suffered substantial damage due to incessant rains in Rajouri and Poonch district, officials said. A number of domestic animals also perished in the heavy rains which battered the region for last few days.
A 35-year-old man, Mohammad Shokit son of Mohammad Hussain of Kaller Mora Mendhar, at present Gola Nari kotli Kalaban Manjakote Rajouri, died when a cattle shed he was in collapsed.
Power supply to whole of Mendhar has been cut off due to damage to 33 KV lines from Draba and Manjakote due to flash floods. “Men and machinery has been pressed into service for early restoration,” the officials said.
They said main footbridge connecting Jammu-Poonch highway with Rajouri Garden in Manjakote village near Thandikassi in Rajouri was also damaged due to heavy rains.
Reports said one cattle shed of Mohammad Aslam son of Sab Din Gujjar of Sanghiote in Mendhar area of Poonch district collapsed due to heavy rains in which five buffalos died.
A Tata Sumo also got stuck in flash flood at Chhatral area of Mendhar. A police team headed by SHO Mendher Manzoor Kohli reached on spot and carried out the rescue operation in the supervision of SDPO Mendhar Neeraj Padyar, they said. Several cattle sheds also collapsed in Poonch and Rajouri districts, they said.
Meanwhile, a flood-like situation is prevailing in Rajouri district as Saktoh and Dharhali as rivers are overflowing following heavy rainfall
Waterlogging is being reported at multiple places in Jammu, which has hindered the movement of people and traffic.
The rainfall brought cheers on the faces of people in Kashmir particularly the farming community who were staring at huge losses due to the dry weather.
Ghulam Mohammad, a grower of Pattan area in Baramulla district said timely rainfall will infuse new life to the crops including apple and paddy.
“Apple trees were on the verge of getting damaged due to the heatwave. Paddy crop too was drying up. The rainfall was much needed and it is certainly going to infuse a new life into apple and paddy crops,” he said.
