Srinagar, Apr 20: Though it being Spring, the incessant rains in plains and snowfall lashing upper reaches made Valleyites to shiver of Friday with mercury dipping below zero in Gulmarg and Srinagar recording 10 degree C.
Gulmarg and other areas in the higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall today, while rains lashed the plains in the Valley, including the summer capital Srinagar.
Fresh snowfall has been recorded in the ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, an official of the Meteorological department here said.
He said there are reports of snowfall in other areas in the higher reaches of the Valley, including in Zojila Pass, near Amarnath Cave and Drass.
The plain areas in the Valley were lashed by rains which have brought down the maximum temperature below the normal for this part of the season, the official said.
He said Srinagar recorded a maximum of 18.5 degrees Celsius yesterday, against the normal of 21.1 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, Divisional Administration, Kashmir, has issued an avalanche warning for hilly and avalanche-prone areas of the Valley and Ladakh region.
“Avalanche warning exists for avalanche-prone slopes of Kupwara, Bandipora, Baramulla, Anantnag, Kulgam, Budgam, Ganderbal, Kargil and Leh districts of Kashmir Division for today,” an official of the Divisional Administration said.
He said all deputy commissioners concerned have been asked to take precautionary measures in their respective districts and advise people not to venture in avalanche-prone areas and monitor the situation regularly to avert any untoward incident.
Incessant rainfall, hailstorm and unseasonal snowfall was also recorded in the hills of Chenab Valley region of Jammu division.
After repeated spells of rain coupled with strong winds and hailstorm since last one week at several places, most of the high altitude areas of Chenab Valley experienced unseasonal fresh snowfall today, officials said.
The snowfall in the hills and continuous spells of rain coupled with hailstorms has marred the prospects of a good yield in the region.
The incessant rainfall, hailstorm and fresh snowfall in hills has triggered extreme cold wave conditions in entire Chenab Valley.
Weather Vagaries: CM directs admn to be alert
Jammu, Apr 20: In view of the heavy downpour in plains and snowfall in higher reaches of the State, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has directed the Divisional Administration of Kashmir to be in a state of preparedness and reach out to people to minimise the level of disruption caused to people due to bad weather conditions.
The Chief Minister has directed all the concerned departments like PDD, I&FC, PHE and other departments to gear up in view of the inclement weather and deploy their men and machinery on the ground to meet the situation arising out of heavy rainfall, an official press release said.
It said the Chief Minister has directed the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Urban Local Bodies to ensure that dewatering process is initiated quickly in all the low-lying and water-logged areas and roads of Srinagar city and other towns. She also directed the PDD authorities to ensure immediate repair and replacement of infrastructure damaged due to strong winds in many parts of the Valley.
Expressing concern over the losses caused to orchards and other property in Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian district and parts of Chenab Valley due to hail and strong winds, Mehbooba Mufti has directed the divisional administrations of both provinces to provide all relief and assistance at the earliest to people in need of it.
The Chief Minister has also directed the Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir to supervise early reopening of major highways connecting Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh regions and till then the stranded passengers be taken care of by the administration properly.
She also directed the Deputy Commissioners of hilly districts to keep a watch on the civilian movement in areas for which avalanche warnings have been issued by the Met department.
