Rains, hailstorm lash Kashmir, mercury dips

Houses damaged, power supply snapped

Rains and hailstorm swept different parts of Kashmir here today bringing relief from the heat wave that had engulfed Valley and at the same time damaged houses and severed electricity transmission lines in many areas. 
The rains lashed Srinagar city and other parts of Kashmir this evening. Reports of hailstorm and rains lashing different parts of Kashmir poured in this evening. 
There are reports of rains and hailstorm hitting north Kashmir’s Baramulla district this evening.
 “Scores of residential houses were partially damaged due to hailstorm which also hit the orchards in some parts of Baramullla especially in Rafiabad area of the district,’’ reports suggested. 
After the reports of damage in the area, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla deputed teams of revenue, horticulture and agriculture department officials to assess the quantum of losses. 
“We have deputed teams comprising field staff of revenue, horticulture and agriculture department to assess the situation. There were reports of damage to crops and orchards, we are assessing the losses and would be drawing up the compensation plan for the affected families,” said Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Farooq Ahmad Lone.
According to reports, in most parts of the Rafiabad area, the windstorm accompanied by hails left around 4 residential houses damaged and scores of trees and electric poles uprooted. Among the areas that were worst hit include Leser, Chijhama, Seripora, Buddan and Watergam. 
The reports suggested that due to the damages of some residential accommodations, some families were left house-less and power supply to some areas was also snapped due to the damage to the distribution system.