Jammu is reeling under an intense heat wave with the temperature on Friday crossing 44 degrees Celsius mark, season’s highest so far. The temperature was 6 notches above normal.
As per Indian Meteorology Department officials, there wouldbe no immediate relief from the heat wave till Sunday.
The maximum temperature will further go up and it couldcross 45 degrees Celsius, a Met department official said. Sonam Lotus, directorof the meteorological department Jammu & Kashmir cautioned the people ofJammu. “Friends, mercury is likely to touch 45 in next 2-3 days, which happensevery year. It had touched 47 degrees Celsius in 1984 and 88,” Lotus wrote on Twitter.
Several parts of Jammu witnessed unscheduled power cuts andlow water supply which compounded the problems of the people.
The Chief Engineer Electrical Maintenance and RuralElectrification wing Jammu Sudhir Gupta issued an appeal for general public requestingthem to shun usage of heavy electric gadgets during peak hours.
“Due to prevailing extreme hot weather causing excessive useof cooling appliances, the power demand of Jammu Province has increased beyondits scheduled quota with the result the Department has to resort to shortduration unscheduled curtailments during peak load hours from 6.00 pm to 11.00pm,” he said.
“General Public is appealed to restrict their power loadduring these hours by taking austerity measures including restricted use of airconditioner and if unavoidable set its thermostat setting at around 24°C,” itsaid.
It further requested people to avoid electric cookingappliances during peak hours.
Moreover, the power supply of industrial units shall alsoremain off for two hours in a day from 8 pm to 10 pm.
30 DEGREES CELSIUS IN KASHMIR:
For the first time this year the maximum temperature touched30 degrees Celsius in Kashmir.
Met officials here said that on Thursday Kashmir recordedseason’s hottest day and temperatures touched 30 degrees Celsius. “In the monthof May the temperatures have mostly not crossed 29 degrees Celsius,” MeTofficials said.
They said that this season they do not expect anysignificant change in temperature as compared to previous years.