Rains, thunderstorms to lash Kashmir

The weather office Sunday warned that intermittent rains with occasional thunderstorms will lash the Kashmir Valley in the next 48 hours, and advised travellers on the Srinagar-Leh and Srinagar-Jammu highways to exercise caution.

"The weather is likely to remain wet in the valley today (Sunday) and tomorrow (Monday) due to a western disturbance," Sonam Lotus, director of the weather office here told IANS.

Western distrubance is an extra-tropical storm system originating in the Mediterranean that brings sudden rain or snow to the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent.

"Intermittent rains with possibility of thunderstorms, especially in the Zojilla Pass area of Srinagar-Leh national highway and Ramban area of Srinagar-Jammu highway, are likely to occur in the next 48 hours," Lotus added.

"People travelling on the Srinagar-Leh and Srinagar-Jammu national highways are advised to exercise caution," the official warned. The weather will start improving from Tuesday onwards, he said.

Kashmir receives most of its rainfall due to western disturbances.

Rabi crops in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh depend on the Western Disturbances whose failure often results in damage to the crops sown in the region.