Heat wave continued on Tuesday after rain provided brief relief during the night in major parts of summer capital, Srinagar, where hottest day was recorded on Monday when the maximum temperature was 35.7 degree.
Meanwhile, a Met department spokesman issued a fresh warning for isolated heavy rain, thundershowers with 30 km to 40 km per hour gusty winds during the next 48 hours in the valley.
He said there could be scattered light to moderate rain and thundershowers in Jammu and isolated rain and thundershowers in the Kashmir valley while weather will be mainly dry in Ladakh, Gilgit and Baltistan in Paksitan Occupied Kashmir (POK) during the next 24 hours.
There could be increase in precipitation during subsequent two days, he said.
He said Srinagar witnessed hottest day of the season so far after the maximum temperature was 35.7 degree while the minimum temperature was 18.2 degree.
However, rain in the wee hours and later in the morning provided some brief relief to people. However, the joy short-lived as heat wave continued after sun again came behind the clouds.
Met spokesman said there was 20.2 mm rainfall during the night till 0830 hrs this morning in Srinagar, where sky would be partly cloudy to generally cloudy during the next 24 hours. The maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 33 degree and 20 degree respectively during the next 24 hours, he added.
Spokesman said Gilgit in POK recorded 41 degree maximum temperature on Monday, highest in the region followed by Skardu 38.2 degree maximum temperature and Mirpur (both in POK) recorded 35.5 degree maximum temperature. Mirpur recorded highest 47.8 mm rainfull during the past 24 hours till 0830 hrs. Muzaffarabad, capital of POK recorded 36. 2 degree maximum temperature on Monday after 34 mm rainfall.
World famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir recorded 26.2 degree maximum temperature while it was 30.4 degree at Pahalgam.
Meanwhile, Director horticulture advised farmers and orchardists that in the absence of sufficient rain, they should make alternative arrangements for irrigating their vegetables and fruit trees. However, he warned that watering of vegetable crops and fruit tree should be done only during the night hours as it will be harmful to irrigate during the day when the temperature is very high.
An official spokesman said that Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole chaired a meeting of concerned officers to take stock of the water crises like situation looming due to dry season and no rainfall in nearly past 3 months.
During the meeting on Monday, the Div Com reviewed the functioning of Water Supply Schemes (WSS), Irrigation schemes, functioning of Power Projects and other related issues to be affected by deficit rainfall across Kashmir.
Mr Pole while addressing the meeting said that though there is no drought like situation at present, however, a fool-proof action plan and all related arrangements should be put in place to meet any challenge in case dry season continues for a longer period.
To mitigate portable water supply crises in affected areas, the Div Com instructed concerned to use water tankers and ensure continuous supply to the residents in these areas.
Mr Pole on the occasion took stock of the affected WSS and Irrigation schemes due to the low water level and directed concerned to facilitate required irrigation supply to paddy, maize and other crops through community and individual bore well in all affected areas so that the yield is not damaged due to water supply shortage.
He urged people to ensure judicious use of water to ensure there is no scarcity anywhere.
The meeting was informed that farmers irrigating orchards during the day can have adverse impact on the yield and instead they should water their orchards during night times.
The meeting also discussed measures to be taken for sustenance of trees health, next year yield, wildlife, fish population that is likely to get affected due to deficit rainfall.