Srinagar, Sep 01 (KINS): Jammu and Kashmir witnessed one of its rainiest Augusts in more than a century, recording the sixth-highest rainfall since 1901. The Union Territory received 319.3 mm of rainfall against the normal 184.9 mm, registering a 73% surplus.
The wettest August on record remains 1996, with 481.3 mm, followed by 1908 (345.8 mm), 2013 (343.0 mm), 1994 (336.5 mm), and 1955 (331.0 mm).
This year, several districts in the Jammu region reported extraordinary surpluses. Doda topped the list with a 290% departure, receiving 488.2 mm against the normal 125.1 mm. It was followed by Udhampur (159% surplus, 897.9 mm), Ramban (133% surplus, 286.2 mm), and Samba (126% surplus, 720.5 mm). Other districts too saw significant increases—Reasi (64%), Jammu (53%), Kathua (45%), Rajouri (42%), Kishtwar (21%), and Poonch (17%).
As per the Kashmir Weather in the Kashmir Valley, rainfall trends were uneven. Anantnag (35%), Pulwama (18%), Kulgam (13%), and Srinagar (15%) recorded above-normal precipitation, while Kupwara (-23%), Bandipora (-20%), Budgam (-1%), Baramulla (-2%), Ganderbal (-17%), and Shopian (-69%, likely erroneous) faced deficits.
Meanwhile, Ladakh reported unprecedented rainfall surpluses. Kargil received 32.6 mm against the normal 2 mm (1,530% surplus), while Leh logged 54.7 mm compared to the normal 5.6 mm (877% surplus). Overall, Ladakh UT recorded 49.5 mm of rainfall against the normal 4.8 mm, marking an extraordinary 930% increase.(KINS)
Northern Railways starts Jammu–Katra shuttle service to help stranded passengers
Jammu, Sept 01 (KINS): To ease the difficulties faced by locals and stranded travelers, Northern Railways on Monday launched a special shuttle service between Jammu and Katra, the base camp of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
Four trains have been deployed on the Jammu–Katra route, and the service will run from September 1 to 15, officials said. The move is aimed at helping daily commuters, students, government employees, and laborers engaged in restoration work after the recent floods.
Rail traffic in the Jammu division had been paralyzed for a week after heavy rains and flash floods on August 26 damaged tracks and caused misalignment in several stretches of the Pathankot–Jammu section. On Monday alone, more than 50 trains were cancelled.
To manage the crisis, Railways has also been running special long-distance trains from Jammu over the past four days, carrying over 5,700 stranded passengers to different destinations.
The disruption has caused immense hardship, especially for pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi, many of whom were left stranded in Jammu. The tragedy was compounded when a landslide near the shrine in Katra claimed 34 lives.
Officials said efforts are on to restore full rail connectivity at the earliest.(KINS)
