Monsoon in Jammu

Admn gears up to meet any eventuality Monsoon lashes Jammu six days ahead of normal onset

Several parts of Jammu province were lashed by heavy rainfall during the past 24 hours as the monsoon has hit the State six days ahead of normal onset and is likely to become active during the next two-three days thereby prompting the administration to gear up machinery for any emergent situation in the low lying and flood prone areas of the region.

Director of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Sonam Lotus told that monsoon has hit Jammu and Kashmir on June 24-25, almost six days ahead of its normal arrival on June 30 or July 1 and caused massive rainfall particularly in several parts of Jammu region.

He informed that Jammu district and adjoining areas experienced highest rainfall as compared to other parts of the region and since last evening, Jammu recorded 140 millimeters of rainfall.

The holy town of Katra recorded 24.5 millimeters of rainfall, Banihal 0.9 mm, Batote 0.2 mm and Bhaderwah 16 mm rainfall.

"As a Western Disturbance is also passing over the Jammu region, there is every possibility of heavy rainfall across the Jammu region from June 27 to June 30", he said, adding "the intensity of rainfall will be more during next 24 hours and if the monsoon becomes more active, the rainfall will spread to few more days beyond June 30".

Mr Lotus said, "Though the prevailing weather conditions don't indicate any unusually heavy rainfall yet precautionary measures should be taken by the civil administration in the Jammu region".

Dr M K Khushu, Chief Scientist and Head Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu (SKUAST-J) said that even prior to onset of early monsoon, Jammu district experienced 92 per cent of excess seasonal rainfall from June 1 to June 22.

Except Doda and Udhampur districts, where there was deficit rainfall during this period, all other districts of Jammu region recorded above normal seasonal rainfall, he added.

To a question, Dr Khushu said that heavy rains are good for rice crop while as it will cause damage to the maize crop.

Meanwhile, acting on the forecast of the IMD, the divisional administration of Jammu issued directions for precautionary measures in low lying and flood prone areas and the Deputy Commissioners asked to establish flood control rooms in their districts.

Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Sanjeev Verma along with teams of different departments visited various flood prone areas and issued necessary directions to the UEED and Flood Control Department officers for precautionary measures in the vulnerable areas within next some days.

Chief Engineer, Flood Control Jammu, Ashwani Sharma, when contacted, said that zonal officers in the low lying and flood prone areas have already been directed to be in the state of alertness keeping in view early onset of the monsoon.

"We have also established control rooms and are continuously monitoring the situation during the past two days", he said, adding "we are also in close coordination with the Army and Air Force for any sort of help during emergent situation".

Notwithstanding the claims of the authorities, there was water logging in several low lying areas like Dogra Chowk, Jewel Chowk, Canal Road, Talab Tillo, Tali Morh, Sarwal and Subash Nagar etc resulting into inconvenience to two-wheeler operators and pedestrians.

"The first heavy rainfall of the monsoon has exposed the desilting of drains carried out by the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC)", rued shopkeepers of these areas and urged the Corporation to get the drains cleared within next few days so that there would not be much inconvenience to the people during rainy days.

Meanwhile, reports from Poonch said that one Mohd Salman, son of Mir Hussain of Khenater was drowned while crossing a nullah amidst rains last evening. His body was recovered this morning.