Srinagar, Jul 24 (KNO): Weather conditions improved across most parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday after a prolonged spell of heavy rainfall triggered flash floods, landslides, highway closure and widespread disruption across the Union Territory, while the Meteorological Department (MeT) said brief spells of rain and thundershowers will continue before another wet spell commences from July 28.
In its latest weather update, the Meteorological Centre Srinagar, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said weather has improved across most places as expected after the extended rainfall event.
The department said brief spells of rain and thundershowers are likely over the next few days, with a fresh wet spell expected to affect Jammu and Kashmir from July 28.
The cumulative rainfall data for the period from July 19 to July 24 showed that Reasi recorded the highest rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir at 473.2 mm, followed by Udhampur (417.5 mm), Rajouri (349.9 mm), Ramban (293.4 mm), Poonch (290 mm), Kathua (270.4 mm), Jammu (262.6 mm), Samba (213 mm), Doda (120.1 mm) and Kishtwar (77 mm).
In Kashmir division, Kulgam recorded the highest cumulative rainfall at 201.1 mm, followed by Shopian (145.2 mm), Srinagar (144.7 mm), Pulwama (136.8 mm), Anantnag (130.8 mm), Baramulla (119.7 mm), Kupwara (115.9 mm), Ganderbal (115.9 mm), Bandipora (63.7 mm) and Budgam (37.3 mm).
The latest update comes days after the Meteorological Centre Srinagar had issued a weather advisory forecasting a major wet spell between July 19 and July 23 due to moisture incursion from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, coupled with the northward shift of the monsoon trough.
The advisory had warned of widespread moderate to heavy rainfall, isolated extremely heavy rainfall over Reasi and Udhampur, flash floods, landslides, mudslides, shooting stones, waterlogging in low-lying areas, disruption of surface transport and a significant rise in water levels of rivers and streams.
The forecast largely materialised as heavy rains lashed Jammu and Kashmir over the past five days, triggering flash floods and landslides in several districts, damaging roads and public infrastructure, inundating low-lying areas, swelling rivers and streams, forcing repeated closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and leading to the suspension of the annual Amarnath Yatra for nearly a week.
JAMMU-SRINAGAR HIGHWAY REMAINS CLOSED
Meanwhile, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) remained closed for vehicular movement on Friday afternoon due to intermittent landslides and shooting stones at multiple locations caused by the recent heavy rainfall.
Traffic Police said restoration work was underway but advised commuters to avoid travel until the highway is declared safe for movement, warning of the possibility of fresh landslides and shooting stones. The authorities also urged people to rely only on official traffic advisories and verified updates regarding the road status.
Official weather observations showed that Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 24.8 degrees Celsius, which was 5.1 degrees below normal, while Qazigund, Pahalgam, Kukernag, Banihal, Batote and Bhaderwah also recorded significantly below-normal daytime temperatures.
The Meteorological Department has advised people, particularly those living in flood- and landslide-prone areas, to remain vigilant and continue monitoring weather updates as rainfall activity is expected to increase again from July 28.—(KNO)