Jammu News: Total black-out in all 10 districts of region
Many trees, poles, towers uprooted; roads blocked
High velocity winds with the speed of over 90 to 114 kms per hour, thunder- storm, heavy rain with hailstorm at many places created havoc, throwing life out of gear this evening in Jammu region.
The strong windstorm uprooted many trees, electric poles, and towers, leading to total blackout in all the 10 districts of Jammu division and disruption in movement of vehicles on the roads in Jammu City and several other highways. Dozens of roads have been blocked due to fall of trees, its branches and electric poles in various parts of the city.
A wall of Civil Secretariat at Jammu collapsed causing damage to several vehicles and two wheelers. A Cell phone tower near Bahu Fort collapsed causing damage to the two bikes and a house/structure. However, no loss of any life or injury to any one was reported.
A large tree fell on the road near Reserve Bank of India, Regional Office on Railway Road Jammu while falling of several trees at Green Belt Gandhinagar , caused blockade of roads. The traffic was diverted to different routes. The traffic disruption was also caused on Jammu-Akhnoor, Jammu- R S Pura, Talab Tiloo and Jammu-Nagrota road.
Chief Engineer JPDCL, K K Thappa told the Excelsior that Power infrastructure has suffered huge damage due to wind-storm and gusty winds in Jammu region this evening. He said that the power supply to entire Jammu City, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Katra, Udhampur, Ramban and even to Doda and Kishtwar areas has been snapped.
“Entire region has been plunged into darkness due to disruption in the 220, 33 and 11 KV power lines. At present power supply from Slalal power house to Gladini, Burn, Kishanapur, Samba and many other stations has been snapped. The men and machinery of the Department has been pressed into service. We will take a try from Salal Power station. If it worked, power supply to some of the Jammu City areas will be restored by mid night. The JPDCL will try to restore power supply to the other districts as well by tomorrow afternoon,” Thappa claimed.
He said the reports of damage are being received from various areas and the total assessment will be made by tomorrow morning. He said many cables are broken, poles, towers and transformers are damaged. It is uphill task to restore supply within 24 hours, he added.
Director, Meteorological Department Srinagar Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said that Jammu City South recorded the highest wind velocity of over 100 to 114 kms per hour. In Chatha and Satwari area it was around 114 km per hour, in Jammu North and City areas 74 to 80 kms per hour, Samba area 102 kms per hour, Kathua 70 km while in Reasi and Katra, it was 68-70 kms per hour.
He disclosed that the weather is expected to remain wet from April 18 as light to moderate rain at most places and snow at higher reaches and moderate to heavy rain at isolated to scattered places during April 18 and 19, accompanied with thunder and gusty winds from April 18 evening onwards is expected in the region.
The major activity is expected on April 19 as the local MeT department here has issued yellow and orange alerts for the day. On April 21, he predicted cloudy weather with possibility of light rain and thunder at scattered places. “From April 22 to 25, the weather conditions would remain generally dry,” he added.
With the rain and hailstorm, sharp fall in the temperature has been witnessed in the region.
Meanwhile, due to landslide on Jammu-Poonch highway near Gambhir Brahmana in Rajouri sector , the traffic remained disrupted for over two hours on the highway. A large number of vehicles remained stranded on both sides of the busy highway. The stranded people had to face tough time. The road widening work and rain was said to be the reason behind the landslide. Two JCBs were deployed by the GREF authorities and the road was cleared.
Another report said that during thunder storm, the lightning struck a carry bag manufacturing unit owned by Abdul Wahid, son of Zabir Iqbal, a resident of Fatehpur near Rajouri this evening. It caught fire and property worth lakhs was damaged in the blaze.
The eyewitnesses said that flames were first noticed during evening hours, prompting locals to rush to the spot. They tried to control the fire but failed. Later, Fire tenders were pressed into the service to contain the blaze.
Massive traffic disruption was also witnessed on Jammu-Samba-Kathua and Jammu-Katra-Reasi highways. Many trees were uprooted en-route which caused suspension leading to traffic movement of massive traffic jamming at several places.
In Gool area of Ramban and Chassna area of Mahore, at least a dozen sheep/ goats perished due to lightning and hailstorm. Three cattle also perished in Damni area of Chassana this evening due to cloud burst. A car and a house were damaged in in the incident.
The reports of hailstorm were also received from Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi Udhampur and Ramban. The fruit trees suffered massive loss due to hailstorm and gusty winds while mango trees in Jammu, Samba and Kathua belt of lower Shivalik range.
Reports from Srinagar said that a day after the Valley recorded the hottest day of the season, heavy rains in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley this evening.
The weather was mostly cloudy since this afternoon across the Valley and the rainfall in the evening led to the decline in temperature.
Amidst the gusty winds, the rains lashed multiple areas of the Valley including Srinagar, especially north and central Kashmir.
However, the weatherman has forecast generally dry weather tomorrow.
Several people were rescued in Dal lake after their boat capsized. The capsizing of the boat was caught on camera which went viral on social media.
The Met office in its advisory has stated that all concerned are advised to plan their journey accordingly and follow administration and traffic advisory, as there is a possibility of landslides, mudslides and shooting stones at vulnerable places along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
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