Srinagar: The Meteorological Department has warned of a severe heatwave at scattered places across Jammu and Kashmir over the next three days, urging residents to take precautions.
Jammu and Kashmir is reeling under an intense heatwave over the past few days.
The heatwave forecast has prompted health advisories and precautions from authorities.
According to the MeT forecast, J&K will continue to experience generally hot and dry conditions until June 13, with a brief respite expected between June 14 and 17, when isolated to scattered places may witness light rain or thundershowers accompanied by gusty winds.
The weather is expected to revert to hot and dry from June 18 to 20.
The MeT has advised residents to avoid outdoor activities between 12 noon and 4 PM.
Jammu and Kashmir has been facing scorching heat over the last few days, with both maximum and minimum temperatures recording significantly above normal across the Union Territory.
According to the latest data, the daytime temperatures have remained 4–7°C above normal in most parts of Kashmir and 4–6°C above normal in Jammu division.
The night temperatures have also remained 2–5°C above normal in most areas of both divisions. The tourist resort of Pahalgam recorded the lowest minimum temperature in Kashmir at 10.6°C, and Banihal recorded the lowest in Jammu at 15.8°C.
Amid the weather forecast and inadequate cooling facilities at most schools across the Valley, parents have demanded authorities to announce “short duration vacations”.
“Students face fainting, heat exhaustion, and difficulty in concentrating,” Nazim Ahmad, a resident of Lal Bazar Srinagar said and urged the authorities to announce short duration break.
“Safety of students is paramount and I’m sure government is alive to the situation. Rather than weighing loss of few days during last month due to Indo-Pak hostilities, the authorities need to consider weather situation for the overall wellbeing of the students,” he said and urged the government to take immediate call in this regard.
Another parent, Sakina Akhtar, a resident of Baghat Srinagar told GNS that authorities should announce the summer break so that safety of students is ensured. “There is no point continuing with the classes when students find it difficult to concentrate amid lack of adequate cooling facilities inside class rooms and while they are exposed to blistering heat conditions while returning home during peak of the weather severity,” she added.
Meanwhile, J&K Education Minister Sakina Itoo on Wednesday said the government is closely monitoring the ongoing weather conditions and will decide on announcing an early summer vacation for schools based on how the situation unfolds.
Heatwave unrelenting, respite unlikely for 2 more days
