Parts of the Valley received heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds and hailstorm on Tuesday while the upper reaches got a fresh spell of light snowfall, even as the Meteorological Department predicted the wet spell will continue for three days.
MeT officials said that Srinagar, Ganderbal and areas inAwantipora, Pulwama, Anantnag and Budgam received moderate to heavy rainfallaccompanied by strong winds.
Director MeT, Sonam Lotus said a current “WesternDisturbance”— an atmospheric condition that brings about change in the weather—was likely to continue for the next three days.
Lotus said the rain with thunderstorm was likely to continueat scattered places of J&K, mainly towards late afternoon and evening,during next three days whereas weather is most likely to remain “mainly dry” onApril 11 and 12. “Another wet spellis likely on April 13 and 14 when light snowfall is possible at some places ofZanskar region of Kargil district.” However, he added that there was no forecast of any “heavy rain or snow”during this week.
As per MeT officials, while summer capital Srinagar received7 mm rainfall till 5:30 pm on Tuesday, Qazigund received 4.2 mm rainfall,Kokernag 2.8 mm, Banihal 11.2 mm and Batote 8.5 mm. Kupwara recorded 1.10 mmrainfall while winter capital Jammu also received 0.2 mm rains.
The rainfall also led to drop in temperature as Srinagarrecorded 17.2 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, which is almost 1.3 degrees below thenormal temperature, MeT officials said.
Ski-resort Gulmarg received a spell of rainfall bringingdown the temperature while the higher reaches continued to receive lightsnowfall till late evening.
Traffic disrupted on Highway
The heavy rainfall triggered shooting stones at severalspots along the 270–km Srinagar-Jammu National Highway causing trapping of thetrucks during the evening.
Deputy Superintendent of Police, Traffic (Highway), AjayAnand told Greater Kashmir that shooting stones at Panthiyal and Monkey Morh onthe Highway had caused disruption in movement of traffic. However, Anand saidthat road clearance was underway and traffic was expected to be restored soon.
“We have men and machinery on the job for making theroad travel-worthy. Shooting stones are hampering the road clearance but wehope the road will be restored for traffic soon,” Anand said.
Traffic Advisory
A traffic advisory, meanwhile, issued here, said thatsubject to fair weather and road conditions, only vehicles carrying essentialgoods will be allowed to move on the highway on Wednesday.
The highway had remained closed for six days last week dueto landslides.
Frequent closure of the highway has choked supplies to theValley causing inconvenience to people already reeling under the toughsituation owing to Covid-19.
A shortage of goods especially mutton and other perishablesis being felt in the market for last several days due to highway closure.However, as per officials the stocks were being replenished and enforcementsquads were taking action against profiteers.