The Kashmir Valley, a haven for tourists and Amarnath pilgrims seeking respite from the summer heat, is instead grappling with an unprecedented heatwave that has pushed temperatures to historic highs.
On Saturday, Srinagar recorded a scorching 37.4°C, marking the highest July temperature since 1953 and the third-highest July temperature in the city’s history since 1892, according to Mukhtar Ahmed, Director of the Meteorological Centre (MET), Srinagar.
This blistering figure falls just behind 37.7°C recorded on July 5, 1953, and the all-time high of 38.6°C on July 10, 1946.
The extreme heat, following an already sweltering June with average maximum temperatures of 33°C, three degrees above normal and the hottest since 1978, has caught tourists, pilgrims, and residents off guard.
The prolonged heatwave, coupled with over a month without significant rainfall, has triggered a severe water crisis, threatening agriculture, public health, and the region’s appeal as a cool summer destination.
The persistent heat wave conditions are affecting other parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Kokernag, a popular hill station, recorded 34.0°C, the second-highest July temperature in its history, just 0.1°C below the record of 34.1°C set on July 28, 2024. Pahalgam, a key stop for Amarnath pilgrims and tourists, hit an all-time high of 31.6°C, surpassing the previous record of 31.5°C from July 21, 2024.
In Kargil, temperatures soared to 35.4°C, among the highest recorded this season. Meanwhile, Jammu city logged a maximum temperature of 32.7°C, 2.7 degrees below normal, offering little relief to the region. The absence of rainfall for over a month has led to acute shortages of drinking water and irrigation facilities, particularly in south Kashmir districts like Pulwama, Anantnag, Shopian, and Kulgam, where farmers are struggling to sustain paddy fields and apple orchards, both critical to the region’s economy.
The MET office has some good news for the people in the Valley as intermittent to fairly widespread rain is likely to occur in J and K between the 6th and 8th of July.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Education Minister, Sakina Itoo, on Saturday said that the government will take a final decision on the possible extension of summer vacations on Sunday, keeping in view the ongoing heatwave that has gripped the region.
Speaking to reporters, Sakina Itoo acknowledged the growing concerns from students and parents alike, saying the department has been receiving numerous calls requesting the government to extend the summer break. “We have received a lot of phone calls from worried parents and students urging us to consider an extension in summer vacations due to the persistent heatwave,” she said.
The education minister, however, noted that a formal decision would be taken after assessing weather conditions on Sunday. “We are monitoring the situation very closely. If the heatwave persists tomorrow, we will announce an appropriate decision in the interest of children’s health and well-being,” she added.