Lightning strike claims 2 lives in Anantnag, heavy rain forecast across J&K

Cloudburst blocks SSG Road near Ranga Mode on Zojila

Jammu Tawi, Aug 13: Two persons were killed and two others injured in a lightning strike in Anantnag District on Thursday as rain lashed several parts of Jammu and Kashmir, with the Meteorological Centre predicting spells of heavy rain and thundershowers across the region between August 16 and 19.

An official said that the lightning struck the Gawran Nard area of Anantnag district, killing Faizan Ahmad, 18, son of Mohammad Yaqoob Chard, of Gawran, and Bilal Ahmad Battana, 16, son of Nazir Ahmad, of Redwani Gawran.

Sajad Ahmad Battana, 15, son of Sai Battana, and Shareef Ahmad Battana, son of Jumma, both residents of Redwani Gawran, were injured in the incident and shifted to PHC Larnoo for treatment.

Meanwhile, rain and thundershowers were reported from several areas, including Budgam, Poonch, Rajouri, Shopian, Kulgam, Reasi, Udhampur and the Banihal-Ramban belt, besides parts of central and north Kashmir, the Meteorological Centre said.

The weather office said brief spells of intense rain were reported or were likely in Poonch, Rajouri, Budgam, Gulmarg and adjoining areas, Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag, hilly areas of Ganderbal, Reasi, Ramban, Udhampur and Doda.

A cloudburst over the higher reaches of the Zojila area also led to the accumulation of debris and blockage of the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri (SSG) Road near Ranga Mode, disrupting traffic on the strategic route.

Teams of the Border Roads Organisation were mobilised to clear the debris and restore traffic, officials said. Authorities were monitoring the situation and advised commuters to exercise caution while travelling through the affected stretch.

The Meteorological Centre cautioned that intense showers could trigger localised flash floods, mudslides and landslides in hilly areas, besides shooting stones at vulnerable locations.

According to the forecast, another spell of rain and thundershowers is likely at many places in the Jammu division during the early morning and morning hours on August 14, followed by a brief spell at many places across J&K in the afternoon.

On August 15, light to moderate rain and thundershowers are likely at many places during late night and early morning hours, followed by another brief spell in the afternoon.

From August 16 to 19, several spells of light to moderate rain and thundershowers are expected at many places, with heavy rain or brief intense showers likely in a few districts during the early morning and afternoon hours.

The weather office said heavy rain or brief intense showers could occur in a few districts of the Jammu division and intense showers in one or two districts of the Kashmir Valley during the period.

Light rain and thundershowers are likely at scattered places between August 20 and 22, it said.

The Meteorological Centre advised people to remain cautious as torrential rain and brief intense showers may trigger flash floods, landslides, mudslides and waterlogging in low-lying areas.

Authorities and commuters have been advised to remain alert in vulnerable hilly areas, particularly along roads prone to landslides and shooting stones.

July rainfall breaks 8-month deficit spell in J&K

Jammu and Kashmir recorded 35 per cent excess rainfall in July, breaking an eight-month spell of below-normal precipitation that began in November last year, according to data shared by independent weather platform Kashmir Weather.

According to details, the Union Territory received 259.7 mm of rainfall against the normal of 192.6 mm during July, resulting in a surplus of 35 per cent, the data showed.

The turnaround was particularly marked in the Kashmir Valley, where all districts except Shopian recorded above-normal rainfall during the month.

Baramulla registered the highest surplus in the Valley at 165 per cent, followed by Ganderbal at 110 per cent and Pulwama at 108 per cent. Srinagar and Anantnag recorded a 71 per cent surplus each, while Kulgam was 51 per cent above normal.

Bandipora and Kupwara recorded surpluses of 33 per cent and 32 per cent, respectively, while Budgam remained marginally above normal with a six per cent surplus.

Shopian was the only Kashmir district to record a deficit, with rainfall 40 per cent below normal in July.

The Jammu region also witnessed largely above-normal rainfall, with Ramban recording the highest surplus at 125 per cent. Udhampur followed with 108 per cent, while Samba and Rajouri recorded surpluses of 91 per cent and 88 per cent, respectively.

Poonch received 47 per cent excess rainfall, while Doda and Reasi recorded surpluses of 17 per cent and 14 per cent. Jammu district remained close to normal with a three per cent surplus.

Kathua and Kishtwar, however, continued to remain deficient, recording rainfall deficits of 25 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively.

The July rainfall marked a significant shift in the precipitation pattern across J&K after several months of deficient rainfall, with widespread showers helping push the overall monthly figure into surplus despite deficits in some districts.

In the neighbouring Union Territory of Ladakh, Kargil recorded 10 mm of rainfall against a normal of 1.9 mm, translating into a 426 per cent surplus. Leh received 31 mm against its normal of 11.2 mm, recording a 177 per cent surplus.

The large percentage departures in Ladakh were partly due to the region’s very low normal rainfall during July, the data indicated.

The rainfall figures come amid a spell of active weather that has brought heavy showers to several parts of Jammu and Kashmir in recent weeks, triggering episodes of flash floods, landslides and other rain-related incidents in vulnerable areas.