Jammu: Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an alert on Tuesday and deployed rescue teams at Dal Lake following continuous rains, thunderstorms and swishing gusty winds in Jammu and Kashmir. They further predicted that such weather conditions are bound to stick until June 2.
The weather agency also made a forecast for intermittent light to moderate rain apart from thunderstorms till June 2. Although the night temperature soared initially then it hovered below normal at most places in Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, rescue teams including police and NDRF rushed through the fathoming weather and roped in to help the people stranded in the Shikaras floating across the Dal Lake in the valley.
The security personnel involved in the rescue operations were able to harbour at least 21 tourists through speed boats in multiple sorties.
The tourists who were visiting the magnificent land of Jammu and Kashmir were fear-stricken after witnessing the rogue phase of the weather.
Rogue weather conditions in Jammu and Kashmir are a naturally occurring phenomenon, however, it is not natural to witness such extreme weather conditions in the month of May or essentially summer. The valley is also experiencing an inflow of gusty winds across the plains whereas snow has been trenching in higher altitudes.
Meanwhile, keeping in view the extreme situation that the current weather conditions could escalate to, the police personnel rolled out an advisory for the citizens to avoid entering the Dal in such weather. The gusty winds were so powerful that the residential houseboats were reported to sink in the Jhelum River.
However, the Shikaras ferrying tourists in the Dal Lake are operating without any safety measures. At present, the valley is witnessing a huge inflow of tourists from across the country and even abroad. Last year, the valley broke down its own record as it witnessed nearly 2 million people who came to visit the valley.
Extreme weather conditions are normal in Kashmir, however, what is not is the brewing of such extreme conditions at this time of the year. Jammu & Kashmir Jammu & Kashmir News: Latest News on Kashmir, Ladakh Live News Updates Online
