Gusty winds, hail storm wreak havoc in Kashmir

Srinagar : A residential house and a vehicle got damaged while some trees were uprooted on Thursday due to gusty winds coupled with rains while the hailstorm in Kashmir parts also caused damage to the crops at multiple places as well.
The gusty winds also affected the electricity supply in several areas of the Valley with the concerned officials stating that no major breakdown was witnessed and the supply is being restored shortly.
Eye-witnesses said that the rains continued to lash plains of Kashmir this afternoon, bringing down the temperature further in Jammu & Kashmir parts.
Normal life got disrupted due to the moderate rainfall this afternoon while several areas of Srinagar and other districts witnessed gusty winds too, which led to the damage to the vehicles and a residential house as well.
A residential house belonging to Muhammad Iqbal Sheikh, son of Jalal-ud-din Sheikh of Pinglish area of Tral got damaged after a walnut tree fell on their house.
The family had a narrow escape, but the residential house got damaged in the incident, locals said.
Reports said that hailstorm and gusty winds wrecked havoc in several areas, causing extensive damage to the crops and properties of the people.,
A walnut tree also fell on a vehicle in Burdoo area of Pahalgam in which a vehicle has suffered damage.
The hailstorm was recorded in several areas in north Kashmir including Khamoh, Rafiabad, Wagoora, Kreeri, Ladoora, area of Baramulla, Haihama, Gutlipora, Kralpora, Trehgam, Sogam, Drugmulla, Salkoot and other areas in Kupwara. A few districts including Kulgam in South Kashmir also witnessed hailstorm this afternoon.
Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), Chief Engineer, Javed Yousuf Dar said that there was no major breakdown in the electricity due to the inclement weather conditions.
However, he said that some of the places witnessed damage after tree branches fell on the power lines, adding that the electricity is being restored.
“The men and machinery have been pressed into service and the electricity will be restored at earliest,” he said.
Moreover, the weatherman here has predicted intermittent light to moderate rainfall at most places of Kashmir.
Director Meteorological department (MeT), Sonum Lotus said that there is a possibility of intermittent light to moderate rain, thunderstorm at most places of Kashmir, mainly in north and central Kashmir.
The weather is expected to remain the same tomorrow, he said, adding that on May 27, the weather would remain partly to generally cloudy.
He further said that the rains and thunderstorm is expected again at scattered places between May 28-May 30
Appealing people to stay indoors during the lightening, the MeT director further advised people to avoid venturing near local sloppy Nallahs as thunder shower often generate localized flash flood, water logging etc