Dry spell ends with fury; gusty winds wreak havoc across Srinagar

Srinagar, Jan 23: After weeks of anxious skies and silent prayers, the heavens finally opened over Srinagar on Thursday evening.

The long dry spell came to an end as steady rain began to pour, drawing sighs of relief from across the city.

For many, the showers felt like an answer to collective supplications offered at Masjids and shrines, where special prayers had been held seeking mercy from the skies.

As night deepened, the rain was joined by fierce, gusty winds that tore through Srinagar with unsettling force, turning a night of gratitude into hours of fear and destruction.

While south and north Kashmir districts witnessed much-awaited snowfall, the plains of Srinagar bore the brunt of heavy rain and violent winds that left behind uprooted trees, damaged rooftops, and a city struggling in darkness and water.

HAVOC IN THE NIGHT

People in Srinagar said that from Boulevard to the narrow lanes of downtown, the winds howled through neighbourhoods, snapping branches and lifting tin roofs as if they were sheets of paper. Along the Boulevard, a massive tree crashed onto the roadside, blocking traffic and forcing early-morning commuters to take detours.

Similar scenes unfolded in Rajbagh, uptown, and on the outskirts of the city in Hazratbal, where fallen trees damaged boundary walls and partially crushed rooftops.

In Karan Nagar, pieces of roofing lay scattered across the road.

Near the Ghanta Ghar in the city centre, rooftops were damaged, their sheets flung onto adjoining buildings and lanes.

The residents bore the brunt of gusty winds.

Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Saida Kadal, said that he spent the night battling both rain and terror.

ìDuring the night, we heard a loud roar, and suddenly the roof was gone. I was with my daughters. We kept scooping out water the whole night, fearing the walls might collapse. We had no shelter above us,î he said.

Similar damage was reported in Lawaypora, where the roof of a double-storeyed house was partially blown away, leaving rooms exposed to the relentless rain.

POWER DISRUPTION

Residents said that as winds snapped branches and toppled poles, power lines followed.

Large parts of the city plunged into darkness as several 11 kV feeders were disrupted.

In Hawal, Bemina, Hazratbal, and parts of uptown Srinagar, residents woke to no electricity.

An official of the Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) said restoration teams were rushed to affected areas.

ìSome lines were damaged due to falling trees, while in a few localities, supply was snapped as a precautionary measure,î he said.

WATERLOGGING

With drainage overwhelmed, waterlogging became another ordeal.

Locals said that ankle-deep water accumulated in Batmaloo, Tourist Reception Centre (TRC), and several downtown colonies, turning roads into murky channels.

In parts of the city centre, pedestrians waded through water, clinging to one another.

Around SMHS Hospital, attendants and patients said that they struggled to cross flooded patches near medical stores and entry points.

ìMy father had to be taken for tests, but we were stuck outside because the water was too deep,î said an attendant.

In Tailbal, residents complained of erratic water supply following the storm, urging authorities to ensure quick restoration.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo, said the administration swung into action as reports poured in overnight.

ìTeams from State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), KPDCL, and Police were deployed immediately to clear fallen trees, reopen roads, and restore power,î he said.

Labroo said mobile dewatering pumps were pressed into service in waterlogged localities. ìAlthough Srinagar did not receive any snowfall, we were prepared with men and machinery. Most main roads have been cleared and major feeders restored. An assessment of damages will be carried out accordingly,î he said.