Weather Conditions To Improve In Kashmir: Relief Operations May Step Up

Flash floods triggered by the cloudburst last week caused significant damage to infrastructure and livelihoods in the Ramban sector. Massive landslides left tourists stranded as their vehicles got buried under the debris. The tragedy led to the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Authorities have launched relief and rehabilitation operations as teams continue to assess the full extent of damage. The calamity claimed five precious lives and forced many to move to safe shelters.

In any of the natural disasters, bad weather poses a big hindrance for rescue and relief operations. So was the case with the Ramban tragedy. An active western disturbance led to inclement weather conditions for nearly two days. Heavy rains, thundershowers, hailstorms and high-velocity winds over a wide area resulted in stormy weather conditions.

The ferocity of the weather was further compounded by the massive mudslides and rockfalls along a vast stretch of the National Highway. Turbulent weather conditions continued in some pockets till yesterday. Several parts of South Kashmir’s Shopian district were again hit by an intense hailstorm last evening, damaging crops & orchards, raising concern among farmers.

Today, the weather conditions are likely to improve as the western disturbance tracks its way towards the northeast. The support for cyclonic circulation over Punjab and Rajasthan will also weaken. In the past 24 hours, light and scattered rains were observed over Srinagar, Banihal, Ramban, Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Kukernag, Batote, Kupwara and the Jammu region. 

This morning, there was a general improvement in the weather conditions over the lower and mid reaches of the mountains. At least, relief work will not be hindered on account of adverse weather conditions. The pause will continue tomorrow as well, possibly becoming a shade better.

A weak western disturbance is expected to arrive on 24th April 2025. The weather system will have a short stay over the area till 25th April. The weather conditions will start improving the next day, on 26th April and stay good till the month's end.

The spread and intensity of weather during the 24th & 25th of April will not be punishing in nature. But caution needs to be exercised during this period. As such, the mountain slopes go soft during heavy weather activity and have a tendency to collapse even with a small trigger. Water bodies in the mountains also keep responding, even much after the weather conditions improve. Exercise caution for the next 48 hours.