Avalanche hits J&K’s Bandipora district; warning issued; rainfall predicted in North India

Parts of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) have witnessed a fresh spell of snow and rain, which triggered an avalanche in the Bandipora district of Kashmir. In a weather report, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall and snowfall over the region from 24 to 26 January.

Bandipora district of J&K hit by an Avalanche

Earlier, the weather agency predicted intermittent snowfall and rainfall for seven days from January 19 and extended the forecast of wet and erratic weather till January 29.

According to the official, there was an avalanche in the Tulail area of Gurez in Bandipora, but there were no reports of damage to life and property.

The J&K’s state disaster management authority (SDMA) has issued a low to medium avalanche danger warning for eight districts, including Bandipora, Kupwara, Baramulla and Ganderbal.

Ahead of the heavy snowfall prevailing in the parts of J&K, an official said that light snowfall or rainfall may continue on Monday while there is a forecast of moderate to heavy snowfall over the middle and higher reaches and rains in Jammu on January 24 and 25 and at isolated places up to January 27.

The minimum temperatures in Srinagar climbed above zero to 1°C on Sunday night from the previous night’s 0.2°C. He added that Pahalgam witnessed -6.3°C, while it was -6.8°C in Gulmarg.

Avalanche Warning Issued

On Sunday, the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) in Manali said avalanche(s) may occur in Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba’s Pangi area and Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh.

As per the warning, in Kullu district, avalanche may strike at Nehru Kund, Kulang, Palchan, Kothi, Rohtang Pass, Solang nullah, Dhundhi, Beas Kund, Atal Tunnel’s south portal as well as higher reaches of Banjar and Ani subdivisions.

Also Read: Rainfall is predicted in parts of North India from 24 January; Delhi’s AQI reaches 245

IMD Report: North India

According to the weather agency, the minimum temperatures will rise over many parts of East India during the next three days by 2-3°C and dense fog is very likely during night and morning hours over Himachal Pradesh and Bihar during the next 24 hours and Odisha during next 48 hours.

However, the minimum temperatures remained in the range of 6-10°C over many parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and West Rajasthan, Bihar, East Rajasthan and northwest Madhya Pradesh in the past 24 hours, the weather forecasting agency stated.