SRINAGAR: Many streams are overflowing as incessant rains continue to lash Kashmir.
Srinagar-Jammu national highway has been shut following landslides and shooting stones at multiple locations. Traffic has also been suspended on the Mughal road due to landslides.
Weatherman has forecasted widespread rains till forenoon today. “Widespread Light to Moderate Rain likely to continue till tomorrow (Wednesday) forenoon. Overall improvement from 23rd onwards. No forecast of any major Rainfall for subsequent 1week from 23rd in J&K,” Srinagar Meteorological Centre tweeted.
Kashmir Weather, a private forecaster, said rainfall is expected to continue during the next 3 – 5 hours, “Later intensity of the weather system may reduce. However, on and off showers may continue at some places till late afternoon,” it said.
The forecaster said National Highway has got blocked at multiple places between Ramban and Banihal due to shooting stones and landslides. A landslide occurred at Mehar Cafeteria.
Incessant rains triggered a mudslide at Sukhdar in Uri. However, no loss of life or property was reported.
On Tuesday, the temperature remained 14.2°C below normal. Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 15.0°C on Tuesday, which is the coldest June day since 1975.
Earlier, figures show that Jammu and Kashmir recorded a rainfall deficit of 38 percent in the last five months of 2022. Further, data showed that the march of 2022, which is considered to be the wettest month in terms of rainfall, was almost 10 degrees warmer compared to the previous years. Similarly, April too witnessed above-normal temperatures.
In April, Jhelum, nallahs, and springs witnessed a considerable decrease in water levels. By May-end, some small nallahs had dried up completely. Jhelum too reached its all-time lowest figure for this time of the season. Such low water levels used to reach only in autumn.
