Heavy rain and snow in Jammu and Kashmir for the third consecutive day has thrown life out of gear in the state. The Srinagar-Jammu national highway still remains closed for traffic. According to the latest weather update, two people have died and several others injured due to heavy rain and snow. Break down of electricity is also causing immense trouble to the people in the Kashmir valley.
The Western Disturbance presently lying over Jammu and Kashmir and adjoining north Pakistan brought record breaking snowfall in the state. Pahalgam received 133.4 mm of rain and snow in a span of 24 hours from 8.30 a.m on Tuesday. This is the highest amount of precipitation in the month of March since 2007, when Pahalgam had received 115 mm of precipitation.
Similarly, Batote received 115.9 mm of precipitation, which is the highest in the last 10 years. In March 2004, Batote had received 108.8 mm of snow in the span of 24 hours.
The summer capital Srinagar has recorded 113.1 mm of precipitation in the last 2 days. The minimum temperature here has reached sub-zero level of (-0.4⁰C) today morning after almost a month. Srinagar had last recorded freezing temperature on the 19th of February, 2014.
Rain has been keeping the maximum temperatures considerably below the normal average. Here’s a list of places which received rain and snow in a span of 24 hours from 8:30 am on Tuesday.
| Name of Places | Rain & Snow on Monday(in millimetres) | Maximum in ⁰C | Below normal in ⁰C |
| Pahalgam | 133.4 | 1 | 9 |
| Batote | 115.9 | 3.2 | 12 |
| Banihal | 110.9 | 0.8 | 14 |
| Kupwara | 33.2 | 2.6 | 9 |
| Bhadrawah | 72.4 | 1.1 | 15 |
| Srinagar | 58.3 | 2.6 | 10 |
| Qazigund | 84.2 | 1.4 | 12 |
| Jammu | 38 | 15.6 | 10 |
In Himachal Pradesh, Chamba received 22 mm of precipitation and the maximum temperature recorded was 12.2⁰C, which is 15⁰C below normal average. Maximum in Kulu is also 10⁰C below normal at 10.9⁰C after receiving 11.4 mm of rain and snow in the span of 24 hours.
Dharamsala and Keylong also received 21.8 mm and 25 mm of precipitation. Other places like Shimla received 2.7 mm, Manali 18.6 mm and Kalpa 19.1 mm of rain and snow.
According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh will get relief from such heavy snowfall for a very short time. The weather will remain dry till another Western Disturbance brings rain and snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand from the 15th of March. The intensity of rain will be light for the next 2 days and pick up by the 17th of March.
picture courtesy- pardaphash
