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It is raining in most parts of North India. Heavy rains are continuing in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. At the same time, heat has worsened the situation in Kashmir. The heat in the valley has broken all the records of 25 years. The condition has worsened so much due to the heat that Kashmir is experiencing such heat after 1999. Hundreds of people in Budgam reached the dargah barefoot and prayed for rain. They prayed that O Almighty, forgive our sins.
According to the Meteorological Department, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 36.2 degrees Celsius. This is the highest temperature in 25 years. Not only Srinagar, Qazigund and Kukernag stations also recorded the highest temperatures of 35.6 and 34.1 degrees Celsius. The temperature at all three stations was recorded 6.3 degrees, 7.7 degrees and 8.7 degrees above normal respectively. Meteorological Department Director Mukhtar Ahmed said that Sunday’s temperature in Srinagar was the highest temperature in July since the year 1999.
When was the last time the temperature reached this high
Mukhtar Ahmad said, “The highest maximum temperature ever recorded in the month of July was 38.3 degrees Celsius on July 10, 1946, second highest 37 degrees Celsius on July 9, 1999, third highest 36.6 degrees Celsius in 1997 and fourth highest 36.2 degrees Celsius today.”
People reached the dargah barefoot to pray for rain
The valley has been witnessing drought-like conditions this month and the Jhelum riverbed is dry at many places. Hundreds of men and women in Budgam in central Kashmir visited the shrine of a Sufi saint to pray for rain. They reached the shrine barefoot. They prayed, “O Almighty, forgive our sins.”
70 percent less rain
A youth from Budgam said that he visited the temple in the area to seek help from the Almighty. “Our fathers and ancestors were here, so we are here again. Kashmir is suffering from heat and water shortage,” he said. Jammu and Kashmir has recorded less rainfall in June and July, especially in the Himalayan valley. Most districts have recorded 60 to 70 percent less rainfall.
Drought in Kashmir, heavy rain in Jammu
On one hand, Kashmir is suffering from heat. On the other hand, it is raining in Jammu. Mukhtar Ahmed said, Srinagar has recorded only 33 mm of rain from June 1 to July 24 against the normal 101 mm of rain. Similarly, Shopian in South Kashmir recorded 20.8 mm of rain against the normal 107 mm of rain, while Anantnag received 55 mm of rain against the normal 138.7 mm of rain.
Ahmad said Qazigund in Anantnag district recorded its highest ever temperature of 35.6 degrees Celsius, while its previous highest temperature was 34.5 degrees Celsius on July 11, 1988. “Kukernag in south Kashmir also recorded its highest ever temperature of 34.1 degrees Celsius today, while the second highest temperature was 33.3 degrees Celsius recorded on July 3, 2024. Earlier, the temperature of 33 degrees Celsius was recorded on July 8, 1993,” he said.
