JAMMU: While tourists flock to the cool confines of the Kashmir valley, enjoying fair weather, residents of Jammu and pilgrims bound for Mata Vaishno Devi are grappling with a relentless heatwave.
On Friday, the mercury soared to 44 degrees Celsius in Jammu, a staggering 12 degrees higher than the maximum temperature in Srinagar.
The scorching conditions are exacerbated by frequent power cuts from the Power Development Department. “With no respite from the soaring mercury in Jammu, today's temperature reached the season's maximum of 44 degrees Celsius, with a minimum of 24 degrees Celsius,” a MeT official reported.
Other regions also experienced extreme temperatures: Udhampur recorded a high of 41°C and a low of 26°C, Patnitop had a high of 32°C and a low of 16°C, and Kathua matched Jammu with a high of 44°C and a low of 28°C. Samba saw temperatures between 43°C and 27°C, Katra between 39°C and 24°C, Reasi between 42°C and 26°C, Rajouri between 38°C and 24°C, and Poonch between 37°C and 23°C. The persistent heatwave continues to challenge daily life across the region.
Meanwhile, authorities in Kashmir issued an advisory on Friday amid soaring temperatures in the Valley, with Srinagar recording its hottest May day in 13 years.
The maximum temperature in Srinagar on Thursday was recorded at 32.2 degrees Celsius — the same as on May 25, 2013. On May 20, 2011, Srinagar had recorded a maximum temperature of 32.3 degrees Celsius.
Thursday's maximum temperature was 7.4 notches above normal for this time of the season.
The Met office has forecast an isolated heat wave across the Valley over the next five days.
It said hot and dry weather will persist during this time, with no major rainfall activity till the end of the month.
The weather will be generally dry with the possibility of thundershowers at isolated places till May 28, the Met Office said.
During May 29-31, the weather is likely to remain partly to generally cloudy with the possibility of light rain/thunder at isolated places towards the afternoons, it added.
