Rainfall, Thundershowers Predicted During Next 2-3 Days
Srinagar- The weather department on Friday issued yellow warning in Jammu and Kashmir predicting fairly widespread light to moderate rain and thundershowers over the Union Territory during the next 24 hours.
A senior meteorological department official told Kashmir Observer that a yellow warning has been issued for isolated thundershowers and lightning in Kashmir Valley for Friday and Saturday. He said a similar warning has also been issued for Jammu for the next two days.
“Yellow warning means that people have to stay alert. Alert about rain and flash floods. In south Kashmir the rain is still going on. There’s a possibility of heavy rains. The weather will remain erratic for the next two to three days till the end of July. The people living near water bodies and mountains are advised to stay alert,” Mukhtar Ahmed, Deputy Director MeT department told Kashmir Observer on Friday.
There are four types of colour codes signifying the level of caution: green which means no action, yellow—situation to be watched, orange–government agencies need to be prepared for severe weather and red –action needed by the agencies.
Meanwhile the weatherman said that rains continued to lash J&K with Jammu district receiving 111.2mm in last 24 hours till 0830 hours Friday. Kathua had rainfall of 50.2mm during the time followed by Qazigund with 18.4mm, Kukernag 16.6mm, Batote 16.2 mm, Kupwara 13.5mm, Katra 12.8 mm, Banihal 9.2mm, Pahalgam 3.9mm, Bhaderwah 2.2mm and Srinagar 1.8mm, the official said.
The minimum temperatures also recorded a slight drop at most places in Kashmir Valley and Jammu division.
Famous Gulmarg resort, the MeT official said, recorded a low of 11.8°C against 12.6°C and it was 0.6°C ‘below’ normal for the north Kashmir place.
Kupwara town saw a low of 17.2°C against 19.2°C on previous night and it was 0.2°C ‘below’ normal for the place during this time of the season, the official said.
In Pahalgam, the mercury settled at 15.6°C against 17.1°C on the previous night and it was 2.3°C above normal for the south Kashmir resort.
Kokernag recorded a low of 17.3°C against 18.7°C last night and it was 0.9°C above normal for the place, he said.
Srinagar, he said, recorded a low of 20.6°C against 19.4°C on the previous night. The temperature was 1.9°C above normal during this time of the year for the summer capital, the official said.
Qazigund recorded a low of 18.7°C against 18.6°C on the previous night. The temperature was 1.7°C above normal there, he said.
Jammu recorded a low of 25.2°C against 25.3°C on the previous night. However, it was 0.2°C ‘below’ normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal recorded a low of 18.4°C, Batote 17.7°C, Katra 22.8°C and Bhadarwah 18.3°C, the official said. (With agency inputs)
Highway Reopens For Stranded Vehicles
Vehicular traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway resumed on Friday after blockades caused by shooting stones and mudslides in Ramban district were cleared, officials said.
“Jammu-Srinagar highway is through. Many stretches are still single way open for traffic and intermittent shooting stones still going on, a traffic advisory said.
It said stranded vehicles were being cleared and people are advised not to travel on the highway without confirmation from traffic police.
Convoys of Amarnath pilgrims from Jammu have been allowed to move towards Kashmir valley, officials said.
The important iron tunnel passage set up in the most vulnerable stretch of the highway was damaged due to intense shooting stones on Thursday evening.
According to officials, mudslides and shooting stones struck the highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, at Mehaar, Cafeteria Moore and Pantiyal areas.
The work is going on to clear the highway and ensure two-way traffic on it, they said. (PTI)
Valley fruit growers a worried lot
Meanwhile fruit growers in Kashmir are a worried lot these days due to the erratic weather conditions since last one month.
Growers from various parts of Kashmir say that due to very erratic weather conditions in the past one month, the livelihood of around 50 percent of the population who are directly dependent on the horticulture sector is under threat as a number of diseases have broken out in their orchards.
Muhammad Yousuf, a fruit grower from Shopian, said that due to climate change, they are witnessing rain for few minutes to hours almost on daily basis followed by heat wave due to which various diseases have engulfed the orchards.
He said that these erratic weather conditions are also putting an impact on leaves of fruit trees which in turn is impacting our produce as well.
Growers said that the horticulture sector is under threat due to climate change which in turn has been affecting the produce.
They further added that despite following the spray schedule in letter and spirit, new diseases are coming to the fore due to which farmers are very much worried.
According to Bashir Ahmad Basheer, chairman Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers and Dealers Union there is a need that the government must implement crop insurance schemes so that growers won’t suffer every year.
He said that we have recently met LG Manoj Sinha regarding this issue who assured that soon this scheme will be implemented.
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