Srinagar: A heavy spell of incessant rain since Sunday evening created havoc in several parts of the Kashmir Valley. The administration has assured the water levels were well below the danger mark. Moderate to heavy rainfall drenched the valley inundating roads and low-lying areas while some higher reaches experienced a fresh spell of snowfall bringing down the temperatures and disrupting normal life on Monday.
The incessant rains forced closure of the Jammu- Srinagar highway and Mughal Road. The administration in north Kashmir also suspended classes in many schools.
Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir received moderate to heavy rainfall during the past 24 hours. Waterlogging on several roads and low-lying areas were reported disrupting normal life.
Some upper reaches including Gulmarg, Gurez Valley, Razdan Top, Sadhna Top, Mughal Road and Zojila Pass received light snowfall during the past 24 hours.
The MeT data showed Srinagar received 38.6mm of rainfall, Qazigund 64.4mm, Pahalgam 51.7mm, Kupwara 40.2mm, Kokernag 43.6mm and Gulmarg 30.2mm during the past 24 hours.
The water level considerably rose in Nallahs and streams across the valley due to the heavy downpour. However, the officials said that there is no threat of floods so far. It was moderately raining at several parts of the valley when this report was filed.
In view of inclement weather and avalanche warning issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA) the classes in all the schools was suspended in Kupwara district by the authorities today.
The water gauge measured at 10 am by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Kashmir of river Jehlum at Sangam 10.98ft, Pampore 2m, MunshiBagh 11.33ft, Asham, 7.90ft, Wullar 1576.95m, while its tributaries including Vishow Nallah at Khudwani 7.40m, Rambiyara Nallah at Wachi 1.03m, Lidder Nallah at Batkoot 0.53m, Doodhganga Nallah at Barzulla 2.03m and Sindh Nallah at Doderhama 2.32m.
The Meteorological Department Srinagar forecast generally cloudy weather with light to moderate rain/snow (light snow over higher reaches) at most places with possibility of heavy rain, thunder, lightning, hail and gusty winds over isolated places of Jammu & Kashmir today.
The weather will remain generally cloudy with light to moderate rain with thunder at many places on April 30 while the weather will be generally dry with afternoon thundershower activity at a few places between May 1 and 5.
The maximum temperatures improved but was still recorded below normal by 5-10 degrees in Kashmir Valley on the previous day. Srinagar had a maximum of 16.6 degrees Celsius and it was 6.2 degrees below normal on Sunday forcing people and tourists to wear warm clothes
The MeT office said the minimum temperature recorded during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday in Srinagar at 5.3 degrees Celsius against the 8.5 degrees Celsius and it was 4 degrees below normal for the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir during this period of the season.
Pahalgam had a low of 7.2 degrees Celsius and Gulmarg minus 1 degree Celsius recorded on Monday, the MeT office said.
