Jammu, Oct 22: Temperature in the winter capital of the state dipped to 2 to 4 degrees below normal as rains lashed the region on Friday. Severe cold gripped mountainous Chenab Valley comprising Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts.
The Met officials attribute this sudden change to western disturbance in the backdrop of the region experiencing temperature 4 to 5 degree above normal in the preceding one week.
 While the higher reaches in the state received season’s first snowfall after nearly a month long dry spell, Jammu region received rains giving respite to the people and farmers.
 According to the Met officials, till late noon the region received about 13.8 mm rains which has brought cheers on the faces of the people after the ordeal of hot summer.
 “Rains are likely to continue for next 24 hours as strong western disturbance is passing over Jammu and Kashmir,” said Dr M.K Khushu, senior weather scientist at SKUAST Jammu.
 He said that they are expecting more rainfall in plains and snow in higher reaches in next few days, which will further decrease the temperature.
 “There is an unexpected dip in the temperature today and I feel if the rains continue temperature will further decrease,” said a local resident, Kamal Dev Singh.
 Meanwhile, the farmers across the region are happy as they are prepare to sow the Rabi crop. October and first two weeks of November are perfect for the sowing of the Rabi crops in the region. “Rainfall is good at this time of season as it prepares soil for the sowing. It should rain for next few days more,” said a farmer, Taranjeet Singh.
 However, reports said that unexpected rainfall and hailstorm damaged crops at various places in Basohli and parts of Ramnagar Tehsil in Udhampur. According to a local leader Joginder Singh, the affected areas include Baslo, Adht, Simiti, Dhar Manpur, Kore-Thar, Thath, Zuanta.
 Reports said that in Khoug Mandli village 20 -30 percent crop was damaged following a heavy hailstorm.
 The rains also triggered landslides at various places, including Katra area where a woman pilgrim died after she was hit by a landslide near Himkoti on way to Bhawan at Katra. She has been identified as Ila Sarkar wife of Tapan Sarkar of Kolkata.
 According to police the woman came under a portion of landslide triggered by the rains when she was on way towards the shrine with other member of her family. She received head injury in the incident and died on the spot.
 A girl was killed and another injured when lightning struck at two places in Ramban and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
 Lightning struck a house in Alfar belt of Gool tehsil in Ramban district early this morning in which a 20-year-old Gulzar Bano was killed. The house was partially damaged in the incident, officials said.
 In another incident, a person Ghulam Nabi of Purliya village in Kalakote tehsil of Rajouri district was injured last night when lightning struck him.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 23 Oct 2010 00:00:00 IST