Umaisar Gull Ganaie
Srinagar, Aug 15 : The cloudburst in Kashmir parts on Thursday triggered flash floods in north Kashmir while the lightning strike also claimed a life in South Kashmir. The heavy rainfall was however recorded in Jammu areas and the light moderate rains in Kashmir Valley, bringing down the mercury across Jammu and Kashmir.
A 16-year-old boy died while two others were injured in a lightning strike incident at Damhal Hanjipora area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district today, officials said.
An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the lightning hit Banward Bala area in DH Pora following which the rescue operation was launched.
“A boy died in the incident, while two others sustained injuries. Police and civil administration rushed to the spot shortly after the incident,” he said.
The deceased has been identified as Mukhtar Ahmad Chouhan, son of Mohammad Hussain Chouhan, from Bangward Bala while the injured was identified as Rafakat Ahmad Chouhan, also the son of Mohammad Hussain Chouhan, from Bangward Bala.
Bashir-ul-Hassan, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Noorabad, told KNO that the lightning strike incident occurred between 6:00 and 6:30 AM in Bangward.
“Three children were near a tree with their livestock when the lightning struck. A boy, aged 15-16, lost his life, and two others were injured, one with minor injuries,” he said, adding that soon after the incident, the concerned magistrate reached the spot, and immediate relief was provided.
The SDM urged people to stay away from trees and riverbanks during bad weather conditions.
Meanwhile, a cloudburst in Bandipora district triggered a flash flood, reports said, adding that the incident of cloudburst was reported in Arin area of Bandipora.
However, no loss of life or any major damage was reported in the incident.
Moreover, Jammu as well as Katra recorded heavy rainfall during the last 24 hours.
As per the details available with KNO, Jammu has recorded a precipitation of 130.2 mm while the Katra station has recorded a rainfall of 117.2 mm during the last 24 hours.
The fresh wet spell has brought the mercury down across Jammu and Kashmir where below normal temperature was recorded today, thereby ending the heat wave conditions in the Valley as well.
As per the details, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 23.9 degree Celsius, which was 5.5 degree below normal while 8.3 mm rainfall was recorded at the station till 05:30 PM.
Qazigund, a gateway of Kashmir, has recorded a rainfall of 3.4 mm while the mercury at the station settled at 21.4 degree Celsius.
In Pahalgam, the mercury settled at 20.2 degree Celsius while at Kupwara, Kokernag and Gulmarg, a famous ski-resort, the mercury settled at 25.0 degree Celsius, 21.1 degree Celsius and 17.4 degree Celsius respectively.
However, below normal temperatures were also recorded in Jammu division today with Jammu recording a maximum temperature of 32.4 degree Celsius.
Banihal recorded a maximum temperature of 23.1 degree Celsius while Batote, Katra and Bhaderwah recorded a maximum temperature of 23.7 degree Celsius, 28.0 degree Celsius and 23.6 degree Celsius respectively.
Moreover, it has been learnt that intense showers occurred at many places in Kashmir today while strong winds were also reported from Baramulla and other areas including Khawaja Bagh area where a vehicle suffered damage as well.
Pertinently, the weatherman had forecasted the possibility of intense showers for a brief period & heavy rainfall in Jammu division, which may lead to flash floods, landslides, mudslides and shooting stones over vulnerable places of J&K till August 20.
Director Meteorological department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad has said that light to moderate rains and thundershower would occur at many places of J&K till August 20.
Besides, the MeT has also predicted water logging in low lying areas and increase in water level in Tawi & other flood channels of Jammu division during the next five days—(KNO)
