Mudslide disrupts traffic on Jammu-Srinagar highway; IMD issues yellow alert

NEW DELHI: A mudslide in the Chamba Seri area of Ramban district disrupted traffic along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) on Thursday morning. In response, the Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police issued a travel advisory asking commuters to avoid the route until the weather improves and road clearance is completed.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Jammu and Kashmir from May 9 to 12, warning of thunderstorms and lightning. Several other states, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, are also expected to witness rain and storms till May 11. Punjab and Haryana are likely to receive showers on May 10 and 11.The IMD forecast suggests a gradual rise in temperatures by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius over the next three days in East India. A similar increase is expected across Northwest India over the coming week.Shimla in Himachal Pradesh recorded fresh rainfall on Tuesday afternoon. Light to moderate rain is likely in the plains and mid-hills till May 8, while snowfall is expected in the higher reaches.Nighttime thunderstorms and gusty winds have been predicted in districts such as Chamba, Kangra, Una, Bilaspur, and Hamirpur. Isolated hailstorms may occur in Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Solan, Sirmaur, and Kangra.According to IMD data, rainfall across the state for May so far has been 22% above normal. While Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti districts reported below-average rainfall, six districts recorded higher than normal levels, and others remained close to the monthly average.