Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Feb 18: Kashmir valley was lashed by heavy rains with weatherman warning of a fresh western disturbance from tomorrow which could result in more rains and heavy snowfall between February 22 to February 24.
Director Meteorological Department in Srinagar, Sonam Lotus, said here that a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect the State from tomorrow. “Light to moderate rains or snowfall would occur at most places till February 21. There will be heavy snowfall in hills and moderate to heavy rains in Valley from February 22 to 24.”
Lotus said the weather would remain cloudy and there would be an increase in the night temperatures and decrease in the day temperatures.
The incessant rains in Srinagar today led to water logging in majority of the city areas. The water logging took place even in Lal Chowk and Residency Road areas. The low lying areas of Jawahar Nagar, Rajbagh, Batmaloo, Hyderpora, Natipora, Chanpora, Bemina, Shalteng and several other areas were waterlogged. People were facing problems in commuting and Srinagar Municipal Corporation remained a silent spectator.
In the meantime, IGP Traffic, Muneer Ahmad Khan told Excelsior that Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained open for traffic despite heavy rains. He said around 3500 vehicles crossed Jawahar Tunnel towards Jammu today. He said that traffic will ply from Jammu to Srinagar tomorrow.
A Met official said the Srinagar recorded a low of 5.4 degrees Celsius, up by 1.5 degrees from 3.9 degrees Celsius the previous night.
Gulmarg, recorded 5.2 mm of rainfall and the minimum temperature there settled at minus 1.8 degrees Celsius from minus 1.2 degrees Celsius yesterday. “Gulmarg was the only recorded place in the Valley where the night temperature stayed below the freezing point”, he added.
The official said that mercury in Pahalgam settled at a low of 1.4 degrees Celsius against 1.2 degrees Celsius yesterday.
He said Qazigund recorded a low of 3.2 degrees Celsius. “Kokernag registered the minimum temperature of 2.3 degrees Celsius. The mercury in Kupwara, settled at a low of 0.5 degree Celsius”, he added.
“Leh, recorded a low of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius compared to minus 2.9 degrees Celsius the previous night. Kargil town registered the minimum temperature of minus 7.2 degrees Celsius as against minus 8.0 degrees Celsius yesterday”, the official said.
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