*Temp falls, avalanche warning issued
Fayaz Bukhari/Gopal Sharma
SRINAGAR/ JAMMU, Mar 24: While rain lashed many parts of J&K today, the hilly areas experienced fresh snowfall, bringing fall in temperature across the Union Territory.
The MeT office forecast widespread rain and thunderstorm with snowfall on higher reaches at most places in Jammu and Kashmir for next two days.
A MeT official said that there was a possibility of hailstorm in the plains across J&K during March 24-25. “Thunderstorm may be accompanied by strong gusty winds. Rain likely to commence from (March 24) afternoon onwards,” he said.
The MeT Department also urged farmers to “postpone” spraying of orchards while commuters intending to travel on highway and other hilly areas have been asked to confirm road status from concerned traffic police before starting their journey.
The light snowfall in the hilly areas has brought down the temperature. With fresh snowfall, the temperature at Jammu, Udhampur, Katra, Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Kupwara and many other areas of the JK UT has fallen. The people have taken out woolens to protect themselves from cold.
A Traffic Police official from Ramban said that there was light rain in the sector during day and evening it was still raining. At many places the road has turned slippery but the slow movement of vehicles continued. In some shooting stones prone areas, the movement of passenger vehicles was restricted.
He said that Mehar, Seri and Cafeteria Morh areas were still problematic and the authorities were taking utmost precautions. With the opening of new tunnel at Panthyal, the movement of vehicles at that point has been made smooth, he added.
The winter capital city experienced good rain this afternoon and the intermittent rain continued till late in the evening. Many city roads witnessed water logging and it affected the movement of smooth traffic on the roads. The day temperature also experienced about three to four degree fall in temperature.
The Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA) issued avalanche warning for hills.
The DMA issued a ‘Low Danger Level’ warning above 2800 to 3000 metres over Anantnag, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Kulgam, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch Rajouri and Reasi districts.
People living in the specified areas have been advised to take precautions and avoid venturing in the avalanche prone areas.
Srinagar recorded a low of 5.3°C against 5.2°C the previous night and it was 0.3°C above normal for the city.
Qazigund recorded a low of 4.0°C against 3.2°C the previous night and it was 0.3°C above normal for the town.
Pahalgam recorded a low of 0.6°C against minus 0.2°C the previous night and it was 0.2°C above normal for the famous tourist resort. Kokernag recorded a low of 4.7°C against 4.5°C the previous night and it was 1.4°C above normal for the place.
Gulmarg recorded a low of 0.0°C, the same as on the previous night and it was 1.6°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort. In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at 4.0°C against 3.7°C the previous night and it was 0.8°C above normal for the town.
Leh and Kargil, he said, recorded a low of minus 3.0°C and minus 1.9°C temp, respectively.
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