Srinagar: Most parts of Jammu and Kashmir including twin capitals experienced a slight respite from heat wave as the mercury dipped amid partly cloudy skies coupled with rain and thundershowers on Friday.
A meteorological department official here told GNS that Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K, recorded maximum temperature of 34.0 degrees Celsius. While the temperature was 6 degrees Celsius above normal, it was below seven notches recorded for last two consecutive days, marking the hottest days this season so far.
Barring 3 June 2018, 34.7 degrees Celsius temperature, recorded on Wednesday and Thursday last respectively, was also second highest in more than 12 years during the month of June in Srinagar.
As per the data available on meteorological department, Srinagar has recorded hottest June day ever on 29th day of the month in 1978 when mercury touched 37.8 degrees Celsius.
There was also respite from heat wave in Jammu, the winter capital of J&K, as it recorded maximum of 37.3 degrees Celsius against previous day’s 41.9 degrees Celsius. With rainfall overnight, the temperature in Jammu was around two degrees less than the normal for time of the year there, the official said.
Meanwhile, Qazigund, the gate town of Kashmir, recorded 33.0 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 30 degrees Celsius while Kokernag witnessed 32.3 degrees Celsius, more than previous day’s temperature there, the official said.
The border town Kupwara recorded maximum temperature of 34.5 degrees Celsius, highest temperature in Kashmir.
World famous skiing and tourist resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir was the coldest place in Valley, recording maximum of 23.5 degrees Celsius, the official added.
The weather office has forecast light to moderate thundershower with rain for next few days.
Regarding Ladakh, the officials said that the weather will remain partly to generally cloudy. “No forecast of any significant weather in coming days,” he added.
Meanwhile, reports said that gusty windstorm blew away roof tops of several houses and shops besides uprooted trees at several places, leading damages to the vehicles and other properties, apart from causing damage to power transmission lines. Reports said that a roof top of a building was blown away in Natipora Srinagar. The strong winds also caused damage to tin roofs of various residential houses in other parts of Srinagar.
Reports of damage to several structures were also received from Shopian, Pulwama and Kulgam in South Kashmir and also Pattan, Rafiabad, Sopore and adjoining areas besides Charar-i-Sharief and Magam in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
Several cars were damaged at Pattan as uprooted trees fell on them, they said. Also an alto car was damaged at Magam Budgam.
Power supply was interrupted in parts of Shopian as a result of heavy windstorm that caused damage to electric poles and uprooted trees at several places, they said. Reports regarding disturbance to power supply was also received from Ganderbal. A resident of Duderhama Ganderbal told GNS that power supply through the area was snapped amid heavy winds. (GNS)
