Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 4: A house collapsed due to landslide in Handwara area of Kupwara district while nearly a dozen families were shifted to safer locations as rains continued in Kashmir valley, resulting in decline in day temperature here in summer capital. The divisional administration also issued an avalanche warning in twin districts of Ganderbal and Kargil after snowfall in the hills.
The single storey residential house belonging to 55-year old Mohammad Ashraf got completely damaged in Hanjishat village in Handwara area of Kupwara district due to landslide in Pohru stream. Ashraf said due to rainfall the water level increased in Pohru stream and caused landslide along the stream banks and washed away nearly 4 kanals of land.
“My house is located near the stream and it was damaged completely due to the landslide,” he said. Due to looming threat of landslides, the local administration shifted 12 families to safer places. In Khanpora area of Baramulla district, panic and fear have gripped residents due to mudslides that are coming from nearby mountains.
In view of the incessant rains, a control room has been established at Baramulla which will work round the clock under the supervision of Additional Deputy Commissioner, Bashir Ahmad Khan, an official statement issued here said. “The control room has been established for catering any sort of emergency in the district. The people can contact the Control room on following phone numbers: 01952-238444, 01952-236490,” he said.
A Meteorological Department official told Excelsior that moderate to heavy downpour was recorded in all parts of Valley and predicted light rains/thundershowers for next 24 hours. The official said that the weather is expected to remain dry on April 7 and 8. “However light rainfall is predicted on April 9 and 10,” he said.
Besides downpour, there was hailstorm in various areas of South Kashmir which include Noorabad, Pahalgam, Kokernag, Tral, Sangarwani and Sangam but no damage to crops was reported. In North Kashmir, there were intermittent rains. The continous rains have increased the water level in streams and rivers of Kashmir valley.
The downpour resulted in decline of day temperature in Srinagar by four notches as the maximum temperature was recorded as 13.2 degree Celsius and minimum temperature was 9.5 degree Celsius.
Qazigund, the gateway of Kashmir valley, recorded 12.6 degree Celsius maximum temperature while minimum temperature settled at 7.8 degree Celsius. Pahalgam, which serves as Base Camp for annual Amarnath pilgrimage, recorded 8.5 degree Celsius as day temperature and night temperature settled at 6.8 degree Celsius.
The MeT official said maximum temperature in Gulmarg, a star skiing destination, was recorded 10.8 degree Celsius while the night temperature settled at 1.0 degree Celsius. Kokernag in South Kashmir recorded 11.7 degree Celsius maximum temperature and 8.1 degree Celsius minimum temperature.
The day temperature in Kupwara settled at 15.2 degree Celsius while the minimum temperature remained 7.3 degree Celsius. Leh, which is also called cold desert, recorded a 17.4 degree Celsius maximum temperature and minimum was 4.4 degree Celsius. The neighbouring Kargil recorded 13.9 degree Celsius maximum temperature while the minimum was 0.8 degree Celsius.
According to the divisional administration, Kashmir, an avalanche warning exists for avalanche prone areas above 3500 meters altitude of Ganderbal and Kargil districts from April 4 to April 5, 2016, an official statement issued here said. “People of these areas have been advised not to venture in the avalanche prone areas,” it added.
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