Srinagar, Aug 31: The summer capital, Srinagar, and other parts of Kashmir valley received heavy intermittent rain since late last night, forcing people to wear warm clothes following dip in the maximum temperature, which settled several degrees below normal.
Meanwhile, wet weather has been predicted till Thursday in the valley under the influence of a Western Disturbance (WD), which is active in the region.
A Met department spokesperson told UNI that scattered light to heavy rain and thundershowers would occur during the next 24 hours in the valley. “There will be slight relief on Tuesday, but rain and thundershowers would occur for 48 hours from Wednesday in Kashmir,” he said, adding the maximum temperature could further dip during these days.
Heavy intermittent rain lashed world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, resulting in dip in the maximum temperature, which settled below normal. The ski resort received 4 mm rain overnight. After a slight lull in the morning, heavy rain lashed Gulmarg, which has witnessed slight influx of local tourists from last couple of days.
People in Srinagar woke up to a chilly Monday morning due to overnight rain followed by overcast conditions. Heavy rain again lashed the city later in the morning, resulting in further dip in the temperature. People could be seen wearing warm clothes, including half-sleeve sweaters and jackets, to evade the chill in the city, where many roads were waterlogged. Srinagar city received 1 mm rain till 0830 hrs on Monday.
Meanwhile, the 270-km-long Srinagar-Jammu highway, the road connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, was again closed on Monday due to fresh landslides and shooting stones, triggered by heavy rains at Qazigund and adjoining areas. Qazigund, gateway to the valley, received 8.2 mm rainfall till 0830 hrs on Monday.
World famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, received fresh rainfall since late last night, resulting in chilly weather conditions. Another tourist resort Kokernag and Kupwara in north Kashmir also received rain since late last night.