Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Oct 23: Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Pahalgam, a world famous tourist destination, Kokernag and Qazigund in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district received highest 24-hour rainfall in a decade. The summer capital of the Union Territory has also recorded lowest day temperature in the month of October since 1982.
According to the details available, Srinagar, Pahalgam, Kokernag and Qazigund have received highest 24 hour rainfall in a decade with officials in the Meteorological (MeT) department informing that Srinagar recorded 31.6 mm of rainfall from 08:30 PM on Friday to 08:30 AM Saturday while Pahalgam, Kokernag and Qazigund recorded 43.2 mm, 50.2 and 58.4 mm rainfall respectively in the 24 hours.
With this, the four places in the Valley have received the highest 24 hour rainfall in a decade.
Srinagar, as per the data compiled by the MeT department from 2011 to 2020, had recorded the highest 24 hour rainfall on October 08, 2014 at 23.6 mm.
The data also reads that Pahalgam had recorded the highest 24 hour rainfall on October 20, 2015 at 40.0 mm while Kokernag had recorded 43.5 mm on October 20, 2015 and Qazigund 30.1 mm on October 08, 2014.
Till today morning, Pahalgam as per the officials received 43.2 mm rain and 5.6cm snowfall while Qazigund received 58.4 mm and Kokernag received 50.2 mm of rainfall.
Meanwhile, the temperature has plummeted across the Valley with officials saying that Srinagar recorded lowest day temperature today in the month of October.
Director Meteorological department, Sonum Lotus informed that Srinagar district has recorded the coldest October day since 1982.
In Srinagar, the mercury settled at 6.6 degree Celsius on Saturday, the MeT officials said.
Moreover, the higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall while rains lashed plains. The inclement weather conditions also resulted in closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway, Mughal road and Sonamarg-Zojila road. The authorities have also decided to keep the vital roads closed for the traffic for tomorrow as well.
Several parts of Kashmir including the world famous ski-resort, Gulmarg, world famous tourist resort Pahalgam, Shopian, Gurez, Zojila and others received fresh snowfall in the intervening night of Friday-Saturday.
An official in the Meteorological department informed that the rains have also lashed J&K plains since last night.
The official informed that there is a possibility of more rains and snow till Sunday as the Western Disturbance as per the forecast has affected J&K.
“The weather conditions would start gradually improving from tomorrow afternoon and the dry weather is expected to continue till November 02, 2021,” the official said.
Meanwhile, the prevalent weather conditions have also forced the authorities to close the vital roads in Jammu and Kashmir as precautionary measures.
Jammu-Srinagar highway has been closed due to heavy rainfall at Cafeteria Morh, near Ramban, while higher reaches of Pirpanjal mountain range received heavy snowfall, resulting in the closure of Mughal road, said officials Saturday.
Officials said that due to heavy rainfall, the 270-km long Jammu-Srinagar highway is blocked at Cafeteria Morh, near Ramban, as of now.
“In view of heavy rainfall since early morning today, the people are advised to avoid any unnecessary travel on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) and all other important intra-district roads in Ramban, ” they said.
The Mughal road, connecting Shopian and Poonch districts, has also been closed due to fresh snowfall near Peer Ki Gali while men and machinery have been pressed into the service to clear the road.
DySP Traffic Aftab Shah said that due snowfall at Pir Ki Gali and bad weather conditions; the Mughal road has been closed for vehicular movement. He also appealed to people to plan their journey accordingly.
Moreover, Sonamarg-Zojjila road was also closed after the upper reaches of Zojila in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir received moderate snowfall.
Snowfall in Drass and Sonamarg areas of Ganderbal district has led to the closure of Sonamarg-Drass road, the officials informed.
An official said that keeping in view slippery conditions and fresh snowfall, the Sonamarg-Zojjila road has been closed as a precautionary measure.
The authorities in the evening also stated that no vehicular movement will be allowed tomorrow on Jammu-Srinagar highway, Mughal road, SSG road and Kishtwar-Sinthan road.
“Tomorrow on 24-10-2021, no vehicular movement shall be allowed from either side on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in view of inclement weather prediction issued by MeT department for next 24 hrs,” they said, adding that tomorrow on 24-10-2021, no traffic movement shall be allowed on Mughal Road in view of snow accumulation, 08 vehicles are stranded at Herpora.
The officials also said that no traffic movement shall be allowed tomorrow on SSG road in view of snow accumulation, 10 vehicles are stranded at Sonamarg while no traffic movement shall be allowed on Kishtwar-Sinthan road in view of snow accumulation.
The district administration Ganderbal has also issued an advisory, asking people to avoid venturing out in landslide prone areas.
“In view of the weather advisory issued by the Indian Meteorological Department, general public of Kangan Sub-Division and those living in higher reaches of the district are advised to remain cautious and not to venture out in slopes, hilly areas or flood/landslide prone areas till weather improves,” the advisory reads.
Due to the prevalent weather conditions, the electricity remained affected in several parts of the Valley. According to the details collected by KNO Correspondent, 33 KV lines got affected at various places including Ramsoo, Gool, Sangaldan, Dharmari-Pouni and Chenani due to which various areas reel under darkness.
