High velocity winds, heavy rains hit Chenab Valley

Heavy rainfall and hailstorm coupled with high velocity winds lashed Bhaderwah Valley, Doda and Kishtwar areas on Saturday afternoon triggering flash floods at several places and causing widespread damage to the standing crop.

As per officials, 30% of standing crop has been damaged. Many areas adjoining Doda witnessed heavy rainfall and hailstorm resulting into flash floods that caused heavy damage to the standing crop, vegetables and fruits in the area.

   

There are reports of hailstorm and rainfall from Ghat, Arnora, Jodhpur, Jathelli, Mohalla, Breswana, Barshalla,  Malwana, Gundna, Dharra, Tashnal, Hanch, Malna, Seel, Bhandass, Kalihand, Gadyari, Udhyanpur, Kuluhand, Bagla, Bharath, Aul, Ugad, Dhar, Dashnan, Koti, Sazan, Bijarni, Beoli, Bhagwah, Kastigarh, Dessa, Topneel, Shamthi, Bhartund, Rajgarh, Assar, Marmat, Khalleni, Trown ,Shiva, Bhella, Chiralla and many parts of Bhaderwah sub district.

There are also reports of loss of livestock especially in the upper reaches where nomads move with their cattle. The rainfall and hailstorm also brought back chilly conditions with temperature dipping by few notches.     

Chenab region in general and Bhaderwah Valley in particular have been witnessing torrential rains and unseasonal snowfall since the past long time.

The month of April and first week of May have been unusually cold for the entire region this year due to heavy rains in the plains and snowfall in the higher reaches.

The downpour, which started in the afternoon today, was accompanied by hailstorm, thunder and lightning.

Fruit growers of the region are the worried lot as high velocity winds and hailstorm have affected the prospects of a good crop yield. 

“We were expecting good yield this year but to our dismay squally winds and regular spells of hailstorm have badly damaged the crop,” said Sat Paul of village Puneja Bhaderwah. 

“Hostile weather has badly affected the prospects of Pear fruit as due to continuous low temperature in the month of April, 50 percent of the buds on Pear trees could not reach the flowering stage and now hailstorm has completely damaged the Pear crop,” said Mohd Shafi Sheikh of Village Bharova, a leading fruit grower of Chenab Valley. 

It is notable to mention here that after Kashmir, Bhadarwah Valley is the leading fruit grower of the state.

When contacted, Chief Horticulture Officer (CHO) Doda, Madan Lal Tak said, “As of now, we are closely monitoring the situation which has arisen after continuous hostile weather.

He said, according to the preliminary reports, which we have gathered from our field staff, “30% of standing crop has been damaged”. 

According to forecast weather will remain wet for next few days. 

Kishtwar town and its outskirts were also hit by strong winds and heavy rainfall.

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