| Weather warning to continue for next 24 hrs, rain ends long hot, humid conditions | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Aug 26: Weather warning for scattered heavy rain, thunderstorm with 30 km to 40 km per hour gusty winds will continue during the next 24 hours in the Kashmir valley, where heavy rains since the wee hours of Wednesday ended hot and humid conditions though people are facing some difficulties due to submerged roads.
There was no immediate threat of flood though water level in the river Jehlum and its tributaries has witnessed slight increase, official sources said adding there is possibility of further increase in the water level during the next 24 hours when rain water from mountain will flow into water bodies.
As warned by the Meteorological department on Tuesday evening that there could be wet weather during next 48 hours which could result in flood in some areas, heavy rain from wee hours on Wednesday woke up people in the valley, including summer capital Srinagar. This has however, ended the long hot and humid weather in the valley, where people were praying for rain. A number of areas, particularly in the districts, people hit the streets alleging shortage of drinking water.
Experts issued advisories to farmers how to irrigate their fields and orchards to save their vegetables and fruits after there was deficit rainfall coupled with above normal temperature.
A Met department spokesman said on Wednesday that weather warning will continue during the next 24 hours.
However, warning will end tomorrow in the evening, he said adding Srinagar recorded 19.7 mm rainfall till 0830 hrs, highest in the valley. This was followed by world famed health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, where 19.1 mm rainfull, Gulmarg, famed ski resort in north Kashmir 11 mm rainfall.
He said Qazigund, gateway on Srinagar-Jammu national highway, which is closed for the second day today due to landslides and shooting stone, recorded 7.8 mm rainfall and Kokernag also in south Kashmir 1.8 mm rainfall till 0830 this morning. Kupwara a border district in north Kashmir recorded just 0.4 mm rainfall. Intermittent to moderate rainfall continued during the day also resulting in considerable drop in the maximum temperature, which remained above normal during the past over one month in the valley, including Srinagar.
Though rain has brought some relief to people in Srinagar, several roads, including in the civil lines, were submerged due to rain water, affecting pedestrian movement. However, due to relief from heat, large number of people were out doing shopping and other activities.
Met spokesman said there could be moderate rain and thunderstorm and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 22 degree and 16 degree respectively in Srinagar during the next 24 hours.
He said there was no relief for people in Gilgit, Skardu and Mirpur in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) where weather remained dry during the past 24 hours. However, Muzafarabad, capital of POK recorded 35 mm rainfall till 0830 hrs today.
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