Wettest March in 100 years in North: IMD

New Delhi, March 29 

This month has been the "wettest" March in northern and central parts of the country in the past 100 years, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) today said and predicted more rains in the coming two weeks.

IMD Director General  LS Rathore said due to the rains, there had been extensive damage to field and horticulture crops as well as vegetables in various parts of the country.

“The ordeal is not yet over. After 1915, this was the wettest March particularly in north India right up to central India,” he said.

"But in the next two weeks also there seems to be a possibility or higher possibility of wetness," he said.

Rains today lashed many parts of north India, including the Kashmir valley where several houses were damaged and the Srinagar-Jammu national highway shut due to landslides.

Heavy rains since yesterday have resulted in damage to at least 44 structures, including 18 houses, due to landslides in Chrar-e-Sharief area of Kashmir, officials in Srinagar said.

In the national capital, overcast conditions prevailed throughout the day while some parts of the 

city recorded light rainfall which, according to the weather department, was “not measurable”. The department predicted rainfall for tomorrow.

Unseasonal rains and hailstorms during this month have damaged rabi (winter-sown) crops in 106.73 lakh hectares across 14 states as against the earlier estimates of 181 lakh hectares. — PTI