Rains lash J&K parts; cloudburst hits Reasi village

Srinagar, Jun 4: Rains lashed several parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, bringing relief from the recent spell of hot weather, while a cloudburst in Reasi district damaged several houses. However, no casualties were reported.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, in a post on X said: “Spoke with the DC Reasi to assess the situation following a cloudburst at Village Bathoi. While several houses suffered damage, fortunately, no casualties have been reported. I have directed the DC to immediately provide relief and assistance to the affected families.”
Meanwhile, light to moderate rainfall was reported from many areas across Kashmir and parts of Jammu. The showers brought daytime temperatures down in most parts of the Valley, making the weather pleasant for residents and tourists alike.
According to the Meteorological Centre here, one or two spells of rain, thundershowers, hailstorms and gusty winds are likely at most places across the Union Territory till Friday.
Brief intense showers are also expected at isolated places during the period, it said.
The weather office said conditions are likely to remain generally cloudy on Saturday, with brief showers at scattered places.
From June 7 onwards, weather is expected to remain generally hot and dry across Jammu and Kashmir, it added.
The department has issued an advisory warning of thunderstorms, lightning, hailstorms and gusty winds with speeds of 40-50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, at isolated to scattered places during the ongoing wet spell.
People have been advised to stay indoors during thunderstorms and strong winds and avoid venturing into vulnerable areas during adverse weather conditions.
The advisory also called for suspension of boating and shikara operations during periods of inclement weather.
The department warned that brief intense showers at isolated places in both Kashmir and Jammu divisions could trigger flash floods, mudslides and localised waterlogging.
The rainfall comes after a sharp rise in temperatures across the Valley over the past week due to prolonged hot and dry weather.
The change in weather has brought relief to people and improved conditions at several tourist destinations, including Pahalgam, which continued to record relatively lower temperatures compared to many other parts of the region.
Thousands of tourists have arrived in Kashmir in recent days to escape the intense heat prevailing in several parts of the country, officials said.
The Meteorological Department said it was monitoring the weather situation and advised people to follow official advisories and take necessary precautions during the forecast period. (KNO)