Mercury plunges 2 degree below normal in Jammu

Jammu, Apr 5 (UNI) Incessant rains since last night plummeted the minimum temperature below normal by two degrees in this winter capital city as people yet again experienced cold weather in Jammu and Kashmir.

''Mercury plunged to 15.7 degree celsius in Jammu, where the normal minimum temperature remains 18 degree celsius,'' Met officials told UNI.

Base town of world-famous Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine received maximum downpour in the state. ''In Katra, 31.5 mm rainfall was recorded till 1730 hrs while in Jammu, it was 25.0 mm,'' the officials said.

Srinagar recorded 2.0 mm rainfall while Qazigund 6.2 mm as entire Kashmir valley experienced rains, they added.

Normal life in the region was paralysed due to heavy rainfall as people preferred to stay indoors.

Traffic on 300-km-long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was also suspended due to landslides at various places en-route.

UNI VJ SG HT1928