With 112 mm snowfall recorded in Jammu and Kashmir during the past few days, the meteorological department is expecting that the 32-year-old record of 115 mm snowfall during the month of November may get broken this time.
Heavy snowfall and rains on 3 and 4 November had thrown normal life out of gear in the state and also damaged orchards. This is being seen as an early snowfall as generally it snows towards mid-December.
Director of the Srinagar-based IMD, Sonam Lotus, told The Statesman that the highest snowfall that Kashmir witnessed during the month of November was 115 mm in the year 1986.
The overall snowfall might have been higher during any year but this time the snow has come early causing damage to apple trees and shutting of roads.
Lotus said that the snowfall this time in November is likely to break the previous record.
With the sky packed with clouds on Monday, Lotus predicted light snowfall in some places of North Kashmir.
The intensity of snow and distribution would increase by night and most likely to persist till 14 November. The IMD predicts widespread rain and snow during these days in Jammu, Kashmir and the mountains of Ladakh, Zanskar etc. “Chances of heavy rain and snow is very less, although snowfall of the order of 5 to10 Inch on mountains can’t be ruled out either,” said Lotus.
The J&K Government has declared the early November snowfall a special natural calamity. This is a rare occasion when the government has categorised early snowfall as a natural calamity.
The government has declared apple as a perennial crop given the fact that it takes many years for fruition. It also approved enhancement of the quantum of relief from Rs 18,000 per hectare to Rs 36,000 per hectare for damage to perennial crops like apple.