Srinagar, June 15: Kashmir valley continues to be in the grip of freakish weather conditions. Fresh rains lashed plains on Tuesday evening further plummeting the temperatures, which the weatherman says remained below average, till now, this year.
According to the Meteorological department, the rains were a result of the fresh western disturbances which were active in the Valley.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Director, Meteorological Department, Sonam Lotus attributed the erratic weather to the frequent western disturbances active in and around the Valley.
“This year the westerly disturbances have been frequently hitting the valley. This is because of a low pressure system built up in the region,” he said.
This weather system in valley resulted in the ample rainfall this season. “The rainfall was in the range of normal except for the month of May, which saw above average rains,” he said.
Meanwhile the weatherman has predicted light to moderate rainfall in the next couple of days.
“Scattered rains and thunderstorm will occur across Valley in the next two days because of the westerly disturbances, which are active in valley. Also there is high moisture availability in the Pir Panjal range,” a Met official said. The weather may improve by Thursday.
Tuesday saw mostly cloudy sky with rains lashing in the evening. The rainfall, he said, plummeted the temperatures by several degrees.
The mercury during the day was recorded at 23.2 degree Celsius with minimum going down to 12.5 degree Celsius.
The erratic weather this season has resulted in the plummeting of the temperatures. Despite the midsummer, temperatures continue to be in the range of 15 to 25 degree Celsius in the Valley.
This had also resulted in the delay in the sowing season.
The rains and hailstorm last month wreaked havoc in North Kashmir’s Varmul and Kupwara districts with orchards and crop fields witnessing unprecedented destruction.
Sheikh Nasir adds from Kishtwar: Batote-Kishtwar road remained closed for vehicular movement due to landslides at several places on Tuesday.
Officials said that the heavy rains in the region triggered landslides at a number of places along the highway. Though BRO pressed its men and machinery to clear the road, the highway remained closed due to landslide at Hasti, near here.
Nearly one hundred vehicles were stranded on the road.  People had to face hardships to reach to their destinations.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST