Srinagar, June 11: After witnessing an intense heat wave for the last four days, there was respite for people as Kashmir received light to moderate rainfall on Friday. However, gusty winds caused damage to property at various places. The Meteorological Department (MeT) has predicted light to moderate rainfall to continue in both Kashmir as well as Jammu till Sunday.
Earlier in the day, hot and humid conditions prevailed across the Valley as summer capital Srinagar recorded 34 degrees Celsius, which is 6 degrees Celsius above normal. Jammu city witnessed a sharp decrease in maximum temperature which settled at 37.3 degree Celsius while light rains in the afternoon brought relief from scorching heart in the region.
Ski-resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir was the coldest with a high of 23.5 degrees Celsius. Pahalgam recorded the maximum temperature of 30 degrees Celsius, Qazigund 33 degrees and Kupwara recorded 34.5 degree Celsius, MeT data said.
Director MeT, Sonam Lotus, said: “Moderate to heavy rain along with thunderstorms and gusty winds will continue till late Friday evening in Poonch, Chenab valley, Shopian, Kulgam, Ganderbal, Bandipora area and dissipate thereafter.”
Lotus said prevailing weather conditions will continue for next two days in Kashmir while there is no forecast of “any major rainfall for next few days.”
"We expect slight relief from scorching heat wave in both Jammu and the Valley from Friday evening onwards till Sunday late evening. The weather will remain partly to generally cloudy in Ladakh region,” Lotus said.
Gusty winds damaged roof tops at several places in Srinagar, Pulwama and other districts. A hailstorm lashed Kakapora, Pahoo, Pingelena and other adjacent areas which caused damage to crops.
Gusty winds and rains lashed south Kashmir's Shopian district on Friday evening, causing damage to property and transmission lines in the area. Various structures in Badrahama, Memender, Gahand, Zawoora and Nagisharan Bala were damaged. The winds blew away the roof tops and signs boards of many residential houses and shops in these areas.
Strong winds also uprooted trees at many places in the area and caused damage to transmission lines, plunging the entire area into darkness.
Tehsildar Shopian, Bilal Ahmad, told the Greater Kashmir that as per preliminary reports five structures were damaged due to the high velocity winds.
A PDD official said that the department had started work to restore electricity in the area.
(With inputs from Showkat Dar in Pulwama, Gulzar Bhat in Shopian)
