Rain still eludes Kashmir, MeT issue fresh weather warning

SRINAGAR: Though rain still eludes Kashmir valley resulting in heat wave conditions, Meteorological department on Wednesday issued a fresh warning of isolated thunder showers, lightening and gusty winds during the next four days in the Union Territory.

However, gusty winds during the past few days badly damaged fruit and other crops besides damaged dozens of houses and other structures in the valley. Almost all political parties have demanded compensation for farmers and people who suffered damages due to winds in the valley.

Rain continued to elude Kashmir valley, where the maximum and minimum temperature remained above normal resulting in heat wave conditions. Frequent power failure also added to the woes of the people in the valley, including summer capital, Srinagar. People in several villages hit the streets against shortage of water supply as water level in locals water bodies have also dropped due to dry weather.

Due to no rain coupled with heat wave conditions, vegetable crops besides orchards were affected in the valley.

A Met department spokesman said on Wednesday that there could be isolated thundershowers, lightening and 30 km to 40 km per hour gusty winds in the Kashmir valley and Jammu division till July 12. However, there is no such warning for UT Ladakh, he said.

World famous ski resort of Gulmarg, where one mm rainfall was during the past 24 hours, the maximum and minimum temperatures were 23.4 degree and 10.8 degree respectively.

The health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here south Kashmir received 1.3 mm rainfall during the past 24 hours when the maximum and minimum temperatures were 28 degree and 14 degree respectively.

Summer capital, Srinagar, where only traces of rain were recorded on Tuesday night when some areas witnessed gusty winds. The maximum and minimum temperature were 31.7 degree and 18.3 degree respectively during the past 24 hours.

Met spokesman said the sky would be mainly clear with very light rain or thunder showers during the next 24 hours when the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 31 degree and 16 degree respectively.

Leh recorded 29.9 degree maximum and 19.2 degree minimum temperature while border town of Kargil 30.6 degree maximum and 16 degree minimum temperature during the past 24 hours, he said.

There could be mainly clear to partly cloudy sky in Leh during the next 24 hours when the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 29 degree and 17 degree respectively during the next 24 hours.

(AGENCIES)