Heavy rains, hailstorms, and gusty winds wreaked havoc in parts of South Kashmir, especially in the apple-growing regions, causing significant damage to orchards. The Met Office in Srinagar has issued both yellow and orange alerts for the coming days, forecasting further intense weather disruptions until April 22.
An active Western Disturbance is expected to affect Jammu and Kashmir until April 21, bringing widespread light to moderate rainfall to the plains, along with snowfall in higher elevations.
The peak intensity of the disturbance is anticipated between the night of April 18 and April 19, with heavy precipitation expected in areas like Pir Panjal, Anantnag, Pahalgam, Kulgam, Sinthan Pass, and Shopian, as well as other high-altitude regions such as Gulmarg, Bandipora-Razdan Pass, and Kupwara-Sadhna Pass.
The advisory also highlights the likelihood of strong winds reaching 40–50 km/h, gusting up to 70 km/h, along with thunderstorms, lightning, and the possibility of more hailstorms.
In light of the forecast, the Met Office has warned travellers, especially those heading to Kashmir, about potential disruptions in surface transport. The Jammu-Srinagar and Srinagar-Leh highways, along with other major hilly routes, are expected to be severely impacted.
Authorities have also cautioned of the potential for landslides, mudslides, and shooting stones in vulnerable areas. In addition, there is a risk of rising water levels in rivers and streams, with waterlogging expected in low-lying regions.
Farmers have been strongly advised to suspend agricultural activities until the afternoon of April 21.
To manage the crisis, Jammu and Kashmir’s State Disaster Response Teams have been placed on high alert to tackle the emergency brought on by the inclement weather.
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