Jammu: Intense rainfall accompanied by severe thunderstorms and lightning swept across several districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, prompting local administrations to issue public safety advisories. In Ramban district, significant precipitation and lightning activity led authorities to urge caution among residents, particularly those situated in high-altitude terrain and near active waterways, streams, and vulnerable riverbanks, advising against non-essential travel during the unsettled weather.
Neighbouring Udhampur district experienced simultaneous heavy showers, which contributed to an immediate drop in temperatures and waterlogged local roads across the division. Meteorological data indicated widespread cloud cover and substantial precipitation across both Jammu and Kashmir provinces, resulting in markedly cooler temperatures paired with elevated humidity. Srinagar recorded a daytime reading of 16.2 degrees Celsius with complete rainfall coverage, while Jammu City reached 22.4 degrees Celsius. The hill resort of Gulmarg logged the regional low at 10.6 degrees Celsius, with Pahalgam, Katra, and Banihal also registering sharp temperature dips under persistent downpours.
According to the India Meteorological Department’s five-day outlook, intense monsoon activity is projected to gradually subside into scattered light rainfall across southern and eastern districts including Ramban, Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, and Anantnag. However, forecasters have warned that isolated areas remain susceptible to gusty winds reaching up to 60 km/h, intense lightning, and heightened risks of flash floods, landslides, and mudslides in unstable mountainous corridors. Widespread monsoon activity also extended across other parts of the country, with heavy downpours reported across the northeastern states, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Odisha.
