Srinagar, Jun 9 (UNI) Heat-wave continued as mercury on Wednesday witnessed further surge in the Kashmir valley, where summer capital Srinagar recorded highest minimum temperature of 34.7 degree, hottest so far in the summer.
There will be no immediate relief as heat wave will continue during the next 72 hours, though there are chances of isolated rain on June 11.
People in several areas complained of shortage of drinking water while farmers are facing irrigation problems.
Fan, water coolers and Air Conditioners (AC) were again put on after remaining shut during harsh winter due to above normal mercury.
A Met department spokesman said this evening that weather will remain mainly dry in Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours. There will be no change and weather will remain dry during the subsequent two days, he said.
He said the maximum and minimum temperature witnessed further surge and was above normal in the Kashmir valley, where drowning incidents have witnessed increase as youths are taking bath in water bodies to beat the heat.
Srinagar, recorded 34.7 degree maximum temperature, highest so far this summer, and it was 6.8 degree above normal. The minimum temperature was 19.8 degree which was 6.4 notches above normal. The earlier hottest was 34.3 degree recorded yesterday.
There will be no large change as mercury will remain above normal in Srinagar on Thursdday. The sky would be mainly clear to partly cloudy and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 34 degree and 20 degree respectively during the next 24 hours in the summer capital.
The world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, recorded 25.4 degree maximum temperature, 5.9 degree above normal while the minimum temperature was 14 degree, 5.3 degree above normal, he said.
Famed health resort of Pahalgam, which serves as base camp of annual pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, also witnessed above normal mercury. The maximum temperature there was 30.3 degree, 6.4 degree above normal while the minimum temperature was 10.4 degree, which was 3.4 notches above normal. The water level in river Lidder, passing through Pahalgam, also witnessed increase due to melting of snow on upper heights.
Qazigund, gateway of Kashmir on Srinagar-Jammu national highway, which will remain closed on today for weekly maintenance, recorded 33.6 degree maximum temperature, 7.1 degree above normal while the minimum temperature was 16.4 degree, 4.4 degree above normal.
Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded 34.6 degree maximum temperature, 6.8 degree above normal while the minimum temperature was 16.9 degree, 5.2 degree above normal.
UNI BAS SV 1858