Raja Syed Rather
Ganderbal, Sep 6: Heavy rainfall lashed Zojila sector on Saturday afternoon, triggering concerns among commuters and locals. However, the officials here have confirmed that no damage or untoward incident was reported during the inclement weather conditions.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ganderbal, Khalil Ahmad Poswal clarified that while the downpour was intense for a short duration, speculation about a cloudburst was incorrect.
“There has been no cloudburst in Zojila. People are requested not to pay heed to rumours and avoid spreading misinformation,” the SSP said.
Traffic authorities and Beacon officials were placed on alert to respond swiftly in case of disruptions, but the situation remained under control.
Weather experts also dismissed cloudburst reports.
An Independent Weather forecaster, Faizan Arif Keng said that no such event occurred in the Baltal–Sonamarg area of Ganderbal district, contrary to some media claims. “What took place was a brief spell of heavy rain. No significant damage has been reported, and the minor landslides on the SSG road are already being cleared,” Keng said.
Satellite observations further confirmed the same, showing no major cloud formation such as strong cumulonimbus (thunder) clouds. The buildup began around 3 PM. and gradually cleared by 6:30 PM, he said.
