Hailstorm and rain on Monday wreaked havoc in Srinagar and Budgam districts, even as the Meteorological department predicted that same weather is likely to prevail for the next two days.
The hailstorm, which started at 4.15pm and continued for atleast 10 minutes, was followed by rain. The hailstorm inflicted heavy damage oncrops. Even the power supply was affected and traffic came to a haltmomentarily in several areas.
MeT officials said that Srinagar recorded 6.6mm ofrainfall/hail, Pahalgam 2.8mm, Kupwara 0.5mm and Gulmarg 1.5mm.
The officials said that intermittent rains and thunderstormwill continue for next two days. “Thisis generally pre-monsoon time so there will be hailstorms occasionally incertain areas,” a MeT official said.
They said that frequent Western Disturbances (WDs) areleading to rains in Kashmir. The more precipitation is coming at a time whenthe Valley is frequented by intermittent spells of rainfall and temperature issignificantly lower than the average normal temperature at this time of theyear.
Director MeT department Sonam Lotus had told Greater Kashmiron Friday that that frequency of rains would be very less in comparison toprecipitation recorded last week. “There won’t be any flood like situation,” hesaid. “There is nothing to worry.”
Last Wednesday, a rare snowfall occurred in the higherreaches and at a tourist resort, while the rest of the Valley received heavyrainfall, which raised the water level of the Jhelum river and its tributaries.
The tributaries of the Jhelum, which are infamous for theflash floods of 2014, also registered a drastic rise in their water levels andwashed away bridges in several parts of the region.
The unexpected snowfall was received at Sonamarg resort inGanderbal district, its adjoining higher reaches and also in Drass, Kargil andZanskar towns of Ladakh division.