Owais Gul
Srinagar, Apr 22: The higher reaches of Kashmir including world famous ski-resort, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Gurez and others experiences fresh snowfall on Thursday while the plains receives moderate rainfall, bringing down the temperature further across the Valley.
Several tourist destinations in northern and central Kashmir here have received fresh snowfall. The places include Doodhpathri and Sonamarg in Central Kashmir, Gulmarg and Sonamarg in northern Kashmir while Gurez and other higher reaches too have experienced fresh snowfall.
However, the plains including Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir received moderate rainfall, which led to further dip in the temperature across the Valley.
According to the data prepared by the Meteorological department (MeT), it said that J&K has recorded 27 per cent deficient rainfall in the ongoing season till April 21. “From March 01-April 21, J&K has received 164.4 mms of rainfall till April 21 against an average 224.2 mm rainfall.
According to the data, twin Kashmir districts including Srinagar and Ganderbal have recorded large excess rainfall in this season. Srinagar has received 281.3 mms of rainfall till April 21 against an average 167 mm rainfall, thus recording 78 per cent rainfall above than normal.
Similarly, Ganderbal has recorded 118 per cent rainfall above than normal with figures revealing that the district has received 416.2 mms of rainfall till April 21 against an average 190.6 mm rainfall.
Three Kashmir districts including Kupwara, Pulwama and Baramulla, as per the data have received excess rainfall, which means the districts have recorded over 20 per cent rainfall above than the normal.
According to the data, three districts including Anantnag, Bandipora and Budgam have received normal rainfall while only one district, Shopian has recorded 49 per cent deficit rainfall with data revealing that the district has received 103 mms of rainfall till April 21 from March 01 as against an average of 201.2 mm rainfall.
Deputy Director MeT, Mukhtar Ahmad while talking to KNO said that the prevalent weather conditions as per the forecast would continue till late evening today following which it would start improving gradually.
Ahmad said that there is no forecast of rains till April 30 and it is expected that the weather would remain mainly dry till April 30.
Meanwhile, Chief Engineer of Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) department, Iftikhar Ahmad Kakroo said that there was no threat of floods in Kashmir, saying that the water in the river Jhelum and other tributaries was flowing below the flood alarm mark.
