SRINAGAR: A severe hailstorm accompanied by heavy rainfall hit Mendhar subdivision of Poonch district on Wednesday evening, leaving hailstones up to nearly a foot deep in some areas, raising concerns over damage to standing crops and damaging vehicle windscreens.
Large quantities of hailstones accumulated across several parts of the subdivision, including local markets and open spaces, following the sudden spell of inclement weather. Several vehicles reportedly suffered damage to their windscreens.
The hailstorm raised concerns among farmers over possible losses to standing crops in the affected areas. However, the extent of agricultural and other damage was yet to be officially assessed.
Residents described the hailstorm as unusually intense, with several elderly people saying they had never witnessed such severe hailfall during their lifetime.
The adverse weather also disrupted local activities, forcing the cancellation of the Ramlila programme scheduled for Wednesday in Mendhar.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Centre Srinagar has forecast generally cloudy weather across Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, with light to moderate rainfall at many places and light snowfall over higher reaches. Thunderstorms, gusty winds and hailstorms are also possible at isolated locations, it said.
