KO Photo by Abid Bhat
MeT Forecast Significant Improvement In Weather From Saturday
By Majid Nabi
Srinagar: The authorities here on Thursday ruled out possibility of floods in view of incessant rainfall over the last few days, raising water level in River Jhelum and its tributaries besides other water bodies across the Kashmir Valley.
Water level in Jhelum at Sangam in South Kashmir was recorded at 15.19 feet against 18/21 in the morning, while the water level at Ram Munshi Bagh in the city was 15.5 feet against 16/18.
Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control (I & FC) department, Naresh Kumar urged people not to panic saying that the flood threat has completely subsided with considerable improvement in weather since Wednesday evening.
“There is absolutely nothing to worry. If the rain had not stopped last evening, there would have been the possibility of flooding in the valley,” Kumar told Kashmir Observer.
He added that the I & FC department was constantly monitoring the situation and seeking regular updates from the Meteorological department as well. “Water level at Sangam is receding while at Ram Munshi Bagh it is a bit high,” he said.
Deputy Director of Meteorological department, Mukhtar Ahmed told Kashmir Observer that there will be a significant improvement in weather from Saturday.
He said intermittent rainfall will occur at scattered places for the next 24 hours, while light rainfall is expected towards afternoon and evening on Saturday, April 22.
“Snowfall was not witnessed anywhere in the valley, except reports of hailstorms from Pahalgam, Uri and Qazigund. Since rains have stopped, the flood threat has completely subsided in the valley,” he added.
Meanwhile , a meteorological department official said that in the last 24 hours till 0830 hours Thursday, Srinagar received 28.3mm of rain, Qazigund 68.0mm, Pahalgam 43.7mm, Kokernag 36.8mm, Gulmarg 40.4mm (also 1 cm of snow), Jammu 0.2mm, Banihal 41.1mm, Batote 46.8mm, Bhaderwah 20.0mm, Katra 1.8mm, and Kathua 4.0mm.
Regarding temperature, the official said that Srinagar recorded a low of 7.9°C against 10.3°C on the previous night and it was normal for the summer capital.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 7.2°C against 9.2°C on the previous night while the tourist resort of Pahalgam in South Kashmir recorded a low of 2.6°C against 5.4°C on the previous night.
Kokernag recorded a low of 6.2°C against 8.3°C on the previous night and it was 0.3°C below normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 0.6°C against 2.0°C on the previous night and it was 2.9°C below normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at 6.7°C against 7.1°C on the previous night and it was 0.1°C below normal for the north Kashmir area.
Jammu recorded a low of 18.5°C against 17.4°C on the previous night. It was 1.4°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 8.5°C (above normal by 0.1°C), Batote 9.1°C (below normal by 2.3°C), Katra 16.2°C (0.9°C below normal) and Bhadarwah 8.9°C (1.7°C above normal). Ladakh’s Leh also received 1 cm of snowfall during the time and recorded a low of minus 1.5°C, he said. Kargil recorded a low of minus 0.4°C, the officials added. (With agency inputs)
8 Districts Put On Avalanche Alert
The Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority on Thursday issued avalanche warnings in eight districts of the Union Territory, officials said.
Avalanche with ‘low’ danger level is likely to occur above 2,400-3,200 metres over Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Ramban, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts in the next 24 hours, the disaster management authority officials said.
Avalanche with ‘medium’ danger level is likely to occur above 2,800 metres over the Ganderbal district, they said. People in these districts have been advised to take precautions and avoid venturing to avalanche-prone areas till further orders, they added. Many areas in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir received fresh snowfall while the plains were lashed by rain over the past three days.
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