Incessant rain disrupts normal life in city

Sumit Hakhoo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 2

With strong western disturbance prevailing over the north India, Jammu received 87 mm of rainfall during the last 24-hours.

The weatherman, however, has predicted clear skies by Tuesday evening.

Overnight heavy rains clogged many roads in the city leading to traffic jams. Damaged roads further compounded the problems as vehicles were caught in mud.

Several residential areas plunged into darkness as heavy rains damaged the Power Development Department (PDD) infrastructure.

Water level in the Tawi also increased forcing the Flood Control Department to maintain a close watch on the situation.

Rains also exposed the poor planning of the Jammu Municipal Corporation and other agencies. In many localities, drains were overflowing as the garbage blocked the passage of water.

There was total chaos on the Janipur-Bus Stand road, Canal Road and the Dogra Chowk as water logging slowed down the traffic.

“From 8:30 am on Sunday to 2:30 pm on Monday, Jammu received 87 mm of rain and more rain is expected in next 24-hours. Farmers are advertised to drain out water from the fields to save the crop, especially wheat,” said Dr BC Sharma, agro-scientist at SKUAST-Jammu.

He said weather condition in the upper reaches influenced the local conditions. “More the snowfall in mountains, city will experience cold wave conditions,” Dr Sharma said.

People preferred to remain indoors as mercury dipped to about 14 degree Celsius.

There is every possibility that temperature would drop further in the next few days. “About two weeks back temperature had increased but rains have really made the weather cold,” said Kapil Sharma, a local resident.