| Uncertain weather continues, orchards, vegetable field suffers heavy damage | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, May 17: Uncertain weather continued as people enjoyed sunshine during the day followed by rain and hailstorm in the evening almost everyday during the past about a week in the Kashmir valley, where orchards and vegetable fields suffered damages.
Meanwhile, Director Horticulture Ajaz Ahmad Bhat said today that hailstorm has caused heavy damage to fruit crops and vegetables in the valley, particularly in north Kashmir.
The maximum and minimum temperatures remained below normal during the past 24 hours in the valley, where the Met department has issued a warning for isolated thundershowers, lightening, hail and 30 km to 40 km per hour gusty winds till May 21st.
People continued to witness uncertain weather in the valley, including summer capital, Srinagar, where bright sunshine during the day is followed by rain and hailstorm in the evening almost daily.
A Met department spokesman issued a warning this evening that isolated thundershowers, lightening and hail besides 30 km to 40 km gusty winds would occur in the valley till May 21 in the valley.
He said mercury remained below normal in the valley, including Srinagar, during the past 24 hours.
He said Srinagar recorded 23.7 degree maximum temperature, which was 1.5 notch below normal while the minimum temperature was 11.3 degree, about half a notch below normal on Monday.
There would be partly to generally cloudy sky and the maximum and minimum temperature will be around 24 degree and 11 degree respectively in Srinagar during the next 24 hours.
World famous ski resort of Gulmarg recorded below 3.6 degree maximum temperature on Monday and the minimum temperature was 3.3 notches below normal. However, famed health resort of Pahalgam recorded 1.8 degree above normal minimum temperature while the maximum temperature today was 2.7 notches below normal.
Director horticulture Bhat said reports received from different parts of the valley, particularly Handwara and other north Kashmir areas, orchards and vegetable fields suffered a massive damage due to hailstorm.
"We were witnessing hailstorm and winds during this time of the season almost every year," he said, adding this year the intensity was more severe.
Mr Bhat said in some cases only ten per cent of the fruit and leaves are left on trees due to hailstorm. He said orchards will follow the instructions issued by the department to save their orchards. |
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