Heavy rain lash Kashmir, min temp witness dip though still above normal

Srinagar/April 5:  Barring world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, mercury was still above normal despite heavy rain during the night in the Kashmir valley, where sun appeared Wednesday for a brief period before going behind the clouds again.
Hailstorm at several places, including in north Kashmir, affected cherry blooms while at some places thunderstorm damaged electronic appliances.
The water level in river Jehlum and its tributaries has witnessed increase due to heavy rain though it was still normal.
There could be light to moderate rain and thundershowers at most places over the Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours. At isolated hailstorm may also occur over the state, a Met department spokesman said.
He said widespread rain and thundershowers would continue during the next 48 hours in the state.
Heavy rain during the past 24 hours has resulted in considerable drop in the maximum temperature in the valley, though it was still above normal, barring in Gulmarg, where fresh snowfall was recorded on upper heights yesterday.
Life was thrown out of gear yesterday in the summer capital, Srinagar, where the mercury witnessed considerable drop due to 28.2 mm rainfall and strong winds. Electricity supply in many areas was also disrupted.
The maximum temperature in Srinagar witnessed drop and settled at 13.5 degrees, five notches below normal. It was seven degree above normal previous day.
The minimum temperature also recorded a drop of more than three degrees against yesterday when it was 11.2 degree in Srinagar where it was 7.8 degree Wednesday, still two notches above normal.
Gulmarg, the world famous ski resort, where upper reaches, including Kongdori, Khilanmarg and Affarwat, the highest skiing point connected through cable car from base, was coldest in the valley. Against 1.2 degree, the minimum temperature at Gulmarg was minus 0.8 degree, two notches below normal after 44.8 mm rain and snow.
However, Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded highest 49.7 mm rainfall during the past 24 hours resulting in drop in the four degree drop in the minimum temperature. Against yesterdays 8.2 degree recorded yesterday it was 4.5 degree, half a notch below normal.
Qazigund, gateway of Kashmir on Srinagar-Jammu national highway which remained closed due to landslides, recorded 41.8 mm rainfall though the minimum temperature was half a notch above normal.
Famed health resort of Pahalgam also recorded about one degree drop in the temperature after 37.5 mm rainfall during the past 24 hours. However, the upper reaches, including holy Amarnath cave shrine and its periphery, Sheshnag, Panjterni, Mahaguns and Pisso top received fresh snowfall.
At Leh the minimum temperature witnessed slight increase and settled at 1.2 degree against yesterdays 0.1 degree after 2.6 mm rainfall. Light snow is predicted at Leh and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 11 degree and minus 1 degree during the next 24 hours.
The border town of Kargil, on Srinagar-Leh national highway, still closed for the past four months due to snowfall, recorded minus 1.3 degree after 22.6 mm rainfall during the past 24 hours.