Rains drench Kashmir, More Expected Till tomorrow

Srinagar, March 22: Rains continued in plains of Kashmir Valley while upper reaches received snow, officials said on Monday.
The Meteorological department has predicted more widespread rain in plains and snow in upper reaches till tomorrow and also urged people to be alert and cautious against thunderstorms and lightning, urging them not to sit under trees or iron poles besides warning about avalanches and flash floods or mudslides.
“Widespread moderate rain /snow is most likely to continue till tomorrow (March 24). Heavy to very heavy rain /snow is most likely at scattered places of JK,” Director Meteorological department Sonam Lotus said.
He urged people to remain alert and cautious against “possible” thunderstorms and lightning.
“Please don’t sit under trees, iron poles etc,” he said and also urged people to be wary of avalanches and flash floods or mudslides. Lotus also said there could be waterlogging in low lying areas.
A meteorological department official said that Srinagar recorded a low of 7.4°C same as on the previous night while the summer capital of J&K received 9.4mm of rain in the last 24 hours till 0830 hours.
Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, received 6.1mm of rain and recorded a low of 7.3°C against 5.7°C on the previous night while mercury settled at 4.3°C against 0.1°C on the earlier night at Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir which received 12.4mm of rain during the time.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 5.7°C against previous night’s 6.0°C while it received 8.8mm of rain, the official said.
The minimum temperature settled at 4.8°C in Kupwara against 5.3°C on the previous night, the official said. The north Kashmir district received highest rainfall of 20.6mm during the time, the official said.
Gulmarg recorded minimum temperature of minus 0.5°C against 2.0°C on the previous night, the official said. It received rain or snow equivalent to 16mm.