Srinagar, July 26: Call it a climate emergency, an unusual heatwave has swept across otherwise serene Kashmir this summer
Jammu and Kashmir witnessed another hot and humid day with maximum temperatures hovering 4-5 degrees above normal in Kashmir valley prompting a prominent trade body, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to urge the government to close of schools.
Srinagar recorded a maximum of 35.2°C, some five degrees above normal on Friday.
On July 4, Srinagar city recorded the highest temperature of 35.7°C and on July 24 it recorded 35.6, which was the highest in the capital in July since the year 2000. In July 1999, the city had witnessed 37 degrees Celsius.
In south Kashmir’s Qazigund, the mercury settled at 32.2°C on Thursday, while Pahalgam experienced 29.7°C.
“On July 27 and 28, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy with brief spells of rain/thundershower at isolated to scattered places of Kashmir Division and many places of Jammu Division,” MeT update said.
“There is a possibility of heavy rainfall at a few places of Jammu Division from 27 onwards. Hot & humid weather is expected to prevail till 26th July over Kashmir Div with maximum temperature ranging between 34-36°C,” it said.
From July 29 to August 4, the weather might be generally cloudy with spells of intermittent light to moderate rain/thundershower at many places in Kashmir Division & most places of Jammu Division. “A significant fall in day temp from 29th July onwards is expected,” it said.
The unusually high temperatures have affected life in the Himalayan valley where residents often experience relatively moderate temperatures and pleasant weather. The river beds have dried up while portable water is scarce across parts of the city and some towns.
After the culmination of 10-day summer vacations on July 18, the school education department in the valley has changed the daily school timings to start from 8 am till 1 pm.
Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry ( KCCI) on Thursday appealed to the administration to close down schools again in the valley given the “unprecedented and unbearable heat wave prevailing in Kashmir Division”.
“The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry has taken up the matter with the administration and appealed to them to consider the concerns of the parents of a large number of children for the closure of schools till the cycle of a present heat wave and adverse weather conditions show signs of improvement,” the chamber said in a statement.
