JAMMU: A severe windstorm, accompanied by heavy rains and hailstorms, struck the Jammu region on the evening of April 16, causing widespread disruption. With wind speeds reaching up to 114 km/h, the storm caused significant damage to power infrastructure, uprooted trees, and led to massive traffic disruptions. Nearly all districts of the Jammu division were affected, including Jammu City, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, Poonch, and Reasi.
The storm caused total power outages across the region, with major transmission lines such as the 220 KV Salal Circuit-1 & 2, 220 KV Jatwal Transmission line, and 220 KV Burn Kishanpur tripping. The damage affected almost all 132 KV/33 KV grid stations, including the 132 KV Rajouri Grid, 132 KV Canal Grid, and 132 KV Gladni Grid, plunging the region into darkness and disrupting daily activities.
In response, the Managing Director of Jammu Power Development Corporation Limited (JPDCL) launched an aggressive restoration drive. Upon assessing the damage, the MD instructed the Chief Engineer and Executive Engineers to take immediate action. The restoration efforts were intensified throughout the night and into the following day.
By the evening of April 17, significant progress had been made. The restoration efforts resulted in the re-energising of key grid stations, including the 132 KV Canal Grid, 132 KV Kalakote Grid, and 132 KV Karra Grid. Power supply to parts of Jammu City was restored by midnight, and by 7:00 pm, around 93% of power had been restored to 11 kV feeders and 96.49% to 33 kV feeders. Overall, more than 95% of the power supply was successfully restored across the region by April 17 evening, with restoration work continuing on a war footing in the remaining areas.
The storm had also caused significant damage to infrastructure, including the collapse of a wall at the Civil Secretariat and a cell phone tower near Bahu Fort. Fortunately, no lives were lost, and no serious injuries were reported. However, the strong winds uprooted trees, which blocked roads and disrupted traffic, particularly on highways such as Jammu-Akhnoor, Jammu-R S Pura, and Jammu-Nagrota. The landslide on the Jammu-Poonch highway further exacerbated the situation, stranding vehicles for over two hours.
In addition to infrastructure damage, the hailstorm caused substantial losses to agriculture, particularly in the Jammu, Samba, and Kathua areas, where mango and fruit trees were heavily impacted. Livestock was also affected, with reports of sheep, goats, and cattle perishing due to lightning and hailstorm in Ramban and Mahore areas.
The Meteorological Department has forecasted continued unsettled weather, with light to moderate rain expected over the next few days. Thunderstorms and gusty winds are predicted for April 18 and 19, with yellow and orange weather alerts issued for the region. The public has been advised to take precautions, especially along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, where landslides and mudslides may occur.
