Rains lash Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand while heavy snowfall shuts down Jammu-Srinagar highway

Rains continued to lash Punjab and Haryana today even as the minimum temperatures rose by few notches above normal in most parts of both the states. The maximum temperatures in most parts of Punjab and Haryana dropped yesterday following the rains as the mercury settled between 16 and 19 degrees Celsius in both the states. Agriculture scientists said though rains are beneficial for wheat crop but showers along with strong winds could flatten it and could cause lodging in the fields which is harmful for the crop. 

Union Territory of Chandigarh received rainfall of 54.4 mm while its minimum was recorded at 13.4 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal, a MeT department report said. Among other places in Punjab, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala were lashed by 77 mm, 41.5 mm and 63.9 mm of rainfall while their minimum temperatures were recorded at 9.4 degrees Celsius, 13.1 degrees Celsius and 13 degrees Celsius respectively.

In neighbouring Haryana, Karnal received maximum rainfall of 97.4 mm and its minimum settled at 13.2 degrees Celsius. Among other parts of the state, Ambala, Hisar, Narnaul and Bhiwani received rainfall at 72.6 mm, 35.4 mm, 15 mm and 23.8 mm respectively. The minimum temperatures in these areas was recorded at 14.6 degrees Celsius, 14.1 degrees Celsius, 12.5 degrees Celsius and 14.4 degrees Celsius respectively.

Meanwhile, the Jammu-Srinagar highway has been shut due to heavy snowfall and landslides in the Lasri, Chandrakot, Seri, Ramsu and Panthial areas of Jammu and Kashmir. “The highway is closed because of heavy snow and rain, as well as landslides. It is still closed,” said Inspector General (Traffic) Munir Khan. The Kashmir valley witnessed fresh snowfall on Sunday night.

Normal life was affected across Uttarakhand as well today as incessant rains lashed the state for over 24 hours while the higher reaches of of Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh and Uttarkashi districts receiving snowfall, bringing the state under cold conditions. With CBSE Class 10 Board examinations beginning today school children faced difficulty in reaching their examination centres with continuing downpour affecting traffic on heavily waterlogged roads.

Even officegoers in Dehradun were seen stranded at different points waiting for autorickshaws which plied in fewer numbers. "It has been raining for the past over 24 hours in most parts of the state including Dehradun where the downpour began at 3 am yesterday and is still continuing. In the higher reaches of hill districts like Uttarkashi, showers began on February 28 itself and are still on," head of the MeT office here Anand Sharma told PTI. In places located 3,500 metres and above, 35-40 cm of snowfall was recorded, he said quoting ITBP sources.

Higher reaches of Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag and Pithoragarh districts are all in the grip of a cold wave. Devprayag registered 72.2 mm of rainfall since yesterday followed by Dehradun 71.6 mm, Barkot 62.5 mm, Mukteshwar 60 mm, Uttarkashi 41.5 mm and Nainital 59.5 mm, he said. Overcast conditions and incessant rains led to a sharp drop in day temperatures by about 9 degrees.

The minimum temperature is also likely to plummet by about 3-4 degrees in the next 36 hours if the weather clears up by tomorrow, Sharma said. Snowfall in the higher reaches and continuous rains have also affected reconstruction work at Kedarnath where personnel of the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering are busy removing the debris brought in the wake of 2013 flashfloods.