After a day of rain, weather office predicts relief for Kashmir

The weather office Monday forecast relief from incessant rains, which in the last 24 hours claimed one life, washed away bridges and inundated low-lying areas in the Valley.

A child was drowned in north Kashmir Kupwara district Sunday, and four bridges were washed away as incessant rain inundated low-lying areas at many places in the valley.

Landslides triggered by heavy rains also closed the Srinagar-Jammu and Srinagar-Leh national highways Sunday.

"The weather will start improving from today (Monday) afternoon. We had forecast heavy rains at many places in the valley yesterday," Sonam Lotus, director of the local meteorological office, told IANS.

"We also issued a warning in this regard yesterday (Sunday) afternoon, besides cautioning travellers on the Srinagar-Jammu and Srinagar-Leh highways. From today (Monday) afternoon, weather will start improving. With the expected decrease in precipitation, the water level in the local rivers, streams and lakes will start coming down now", Lotus said.

The minimum temperature was 11.6 degrees Celsius in Srinagar Monday. The maximum temperature Sunday was 16.8 degrees Celsius.

During the last week, the maximum temperature had risen to 32.5 degrees Celsius.