Rains lash Kashmir, temperature dips 14 notches

Spring rains lashed Kashmir valley on Tuesday plummeting temperatures, inundating roads and prompting officials to react.

Spring rains lashed Kashmir valley on Tuesday plummeting temperatures, inundating roads and prompting officials to react.

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A weather monitoring official in Srinagar said that the maximum temperature dropped 14 notches in the capital to settle at 9.9 degree Celsius as against 24.4 degree Celsius on Monday.

“We received around 31.3 mm of rain today,” the official said. He said that the weather may remain bad on Wednesday as well in some areas of the valley.

The heavy rains since last night inundated many low-lying areas in the city and outskirts. A number of business hubs, including city centre Lal chowk remained flooded with rain water due to poor drainage system.

Pedestrians were the most affected. Even drivers found it difficult to manoeuvre their vehicles on inundated potholed roads. No repair work was done despite improvement in the weather condition in March.

The administration reacted to alert their officers in vulnerable areas.

A government official said that deputy commissioner Kulgam in south Kashmir, Jahangir Mir called for readying men and machinery in view of incessant rains that may result in floods.

“The executive engineer Flood Control Division has been asked to deploy its field staff at flood monitoring points as well as in flood prone areas for monitoring water flow in the rivers and share the data with the nodal officer for appropriate measures,” said the official.

The authorities also directed the fire & emergency services department to keep all wherewithal in a state of readiness. “The assistant director concerned was asked to remain in touch with mountaineering division, Pahalgam for securing their assistance in case the need arises,” he said.

The meeting identified government buildings, especially schools, should the need for evacuation of people living in low-lying areas arises.