Srinagar: Intense rainfall accompanied by a hailstorm brought parts of Srinagar and several other areas of the Kashmir Valley to a standstill on Monday evening, disrupting normal life, damaging property, and causing widespread traffic chaos.
According to reports, localities such as Natipora, Chanpora, Rambagh, Jehangir Chowk, Lal Chowk, and Sarmoli bore the brunt of the downpour around 5:00 PM. The storm was also felt in north Kashmir, with Sopore and parts of Magam witnessing heavy showers and hail.
In a notable incident, a tree uprooted between Batwara and Pandrethan fell onto an e-rickshaw, causing damage to the vehicle and resulting in a massive traffic jam along the route. Police and local authorities responded swiftly, working to remove the obstruction and ease the congestion.
Meanwhile, Sopore reported severe waterlogging in several low-lying areas, raising concerns about the city’s drainage infrastructure. Similar conditions were witnessed in parts of Srinagar, where commuters struggled through flooded roads during peak hours.
Elsewhere, the long dry spell in Drass and Kargil ended with moderate rainfall reported on Sunday, bringing much-needed relief to residents in the cold desert region.
According to weather monitoring service Kashmir Weather, cloud clusters began forming over large parts of Jammu and Kashmir between 2:00 PM and 4:45 PM. The forecast predicts more thundershowers and brief but heavy spells in the next 6–12 hours.
“There is also a risk of flash floods in vulnerable spots due to localized intense downpours,” the update warned.
Authorities have urged residents to stay alert and avoid waterlogged or landslide-prone areas until the weather stabilizes.(JKNS)
