Srinagar records season's hottest day

With mercury level rising summer has made its presence felt in Kashmir again. Srinagar recorded season's highest temperature at 34 degree Celsius on Monday, while Jammu city sizzled at 45.1 degrees.

The maximum ever temperature recorded in Srinagar so far is 37.8 degrees in July 1978. Between 2000 and 2010 the highest recorded here was 36.5 degrees in 2005 while for the rest of the years it hovered between 32 and 33 degrees.

A MeT department official said heat wave condition prevailing across the State is unlikely to abate during the next 24 hours though there is a possibility of rain or thundershowers in some places.

He said mercury witnessed surge and recorded five to eight degree above normal in Kashmir, where people are observing fast for Ramzan. Srinagar recorded the hottest day of the summer so far after the maximum temperature surged and settled at 34 degree, seven notches above normal.

World famous hill resort Pahalgam in south Kashmir,  which is gearing up to serve as a base camp for annual yatra to Amarnath cave shrine from June 29, also recorded surge in the mercury with maximum temperature there settling at 28.7 degree, six notches above normal, the official said.