February 27, 2025 Mendhar, Poonch – A powerful hailstorm battered multiple villages in Mendhar, Poonch district, on Thursday, February 27, 2025, accompanied by heavy rainfall that caught residents off guard. The storm, reported as relentless by locals, began and has raised concerns about potential damage to homes, crops, and infrastructure in this border region.
Social media footage circulating from the area shows hail falling continuously, blanketing the ground, while heavy rain intensified the impact. The affected villages, nestled near the Line of Control, are part of a region already grappling with challenging weather patterns this winter. Nearby Banihal reported intense downpours, and higher elevations in Jammu and Kashmir saw heavy snowfall, signaling a broader weather event across the union territory.
Local authorities have yet to release an official statement on the extent of the damage, but past hailstorms in India—like the one in Manipur in May 2024—suggest that agriculture and property could face significant losses. Residents are bracing for aftereffects, with no immediate reports of injuries but growing worry about livelihoods dependent on farming.
The India Meteorological Department had forecasted active weather in the region, with a western disturbance influencing conditions across Northwest India. Mendhar’s hailstorm aligns with these predictions, though its intensity has drawn particular attention. Emergency response teams are on standby as more details emerge.
For ongoing updates, residents and observers are turning to local news outlets and social media, where firsthand accounts continue to highlight the storm’s severity.