Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, June 29: Heavy thunder-storm and wind-storm, indicating first knock of the Monsoon in the State, lashed Jammu and many other parts of the region this afternoon, providing much needed relief to the people from scorching heat wave that continued in the region for the past several days while it turned total darkness during the mid-day as the vehicles were seen moving on city roads with their headlights on.
It was total darkness at around 1.30 pm in Jammu city and its surrounding areas. The sky was over cast with thick black clouds and vehicles were seen moving with their head lights on. Even the street lights and the lights in the houses and offices were put on. Thereafter the wind-storm and heavy thunder- storm started which continued for about two hours. The visibility started improving with the fall of heavy rain.
A Met office spokesman said that the intensity of wind-storm in Jammu and parts of Samba district was around 44 to 50 km per hour. It has been reported from several areas that many trees were uprooted and their branches broken while power infrastructure was damaged. Several electric poles and cables were broken and the electricity supply to many areas of Jammu city and other parts was snapped for the hours together. In many areas, the power could not be restored till late this evening.
A sharp fall of nearly 9 degree Celsius in Jammu’s temperature was recorded after the rain and the people felt relief from the scorching heat. While the maximum temperature in Jammu on Sunday was 40.4 degree C, today the maximum temperature in the city here was 36 degree C. The minimum temperature as recorded by Met in Jammu was 29 degree C. After thunder-storm the Jammu’s temperature reached around 24.8 degree Celsius. At an average, there was nearly 9 degree fall in temperature within two hours of the rainfall in Jammu, the spokesman said.
Famous tourist resort of Gulmarg recorded a minimum temperature of 11.4 degree C, Pahalgam minimum 10.5 degree C, Bhadwerwah minimum 16.5 degree C and maximum 28 degree C while Katra minimum 25.2 degree C and maximum 33.3 degree C.
Director, Metrology Department, Sonum Lotus told the Excelsior that Monsoon reached the State about one week in advance. He claimed that it was first Monsoon rain with thundershower and thunder storm in Jammu region. Mr Lotus said that nearly 76.1 mm rainfall was recorded in Jammu within one and half hour while normally this reading is taken from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm. It indicates the intensity of the rainfall in the Jammu areas today.
The Met Director further disclosed that in next two days also moderate to heavy thundershower will occur in many parts of Jammu region while in Kashmir region light/ moderate rainfall would occur at some isolated places. In many parts of Kashmir and hilly areas of Jammu region there was no rain. In Pahalgam hardly 2.6 mm rainfall was recorded.
Katra Mata Vaishnodevi recorded a rainfall of 36.4 mm, Batote 25.2 mm, Banihal 1.0 mm and Bhaderwah 16.2 mm. Samba, Kathua and Udhampur also experienced heavy rain.
Many city areas and roads were water logged due to heavy rain. With in an hour of thunder shower, water entered many city localities. Including Talab Tillo, Krishna Nagar near Science College, Nanak Nagar, Preet Nagar, Bhawani Nagar, Ware house areas and Gangyal. In Krishna Nagar and Lane No. 1 of Talab Tillo water entered many shops and houses. At Jewel Chowk, Dogra Chowk, Canal Road, Bikram Chowk and University Road there was massive water logging, which caused traffic disruption. This also happened in parts of R S Pura, Bishnah, Satwari and other areas.
Dr Meenakshi Gupta, Senior Scientist from SKUAST-Jammu and Incharge Agro-metrology department said that Chatha observatory of the SKUAST today recorded a heavy rainfall of 88 mm just within one and half hour. She said that it was Monsoon rain of the season and it seems to have arrived at the right time. It often comes with the thunder-shower and dust-storm. Dr Gupta said that for three days, the weather would remain cloudy in the region and rain would occur at many places.
A senior Traffic officer said that Jammu- Srinagar National Highway was clear as there was not much rain in Ramban, Doda and Banihal areas. Since the rain continued, the authorities suspended the movement of traffic from Jammu to Srinagar this evening. The other vehicles on the way, were allowed to move on the either side. The suspended vehicular traffic will be allowed in the morning, if the weather remained clear, he added.
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