Mercury witness surge, bright sunshine on Ist day of Ramzan in Kashmir

Mercury witnessed a surge as bright sunshine greeted people on the first day of Holy month of Ramzan in Kashmir valley, where scattered rain is predicted during the next 48 hours followed by fairly widespread rain for two days. The weather will remain mainly dry today and there is possibility of scattered rain during the next 48 hours in Jammu and Kashmir, a Met department spokesman said. He said there could be fairly widespread rain or thundershowers from June 22 for two days in the state. Bright sunshine, greeted people as they woke up this morning in the valley. This summer capital, recorded highest 17.2 degree Celsius minimum temperature, a jump of about three notches against yesterday when it was 3.5 degrees. People remained indoor due to restrictions and strike on ‘Sopore Chalo’ called by separatists against killings of four people by unidentified gunmen last week. This was followed by Kupwara district where the minimum temperature was 15.3 degrees, two degrees above normal, he said. Kokernag a health resort in south Kashmir also recorded half a degrees increase in the minimum temperature. Against yesterdays 13.5 degree, it was 14.9 degrees, two notches above normal.

However Qazigund, the gateway of Kashmir recorded a drop in the minimum temperature, he said, adding that against yesterdays 12.8 degree it was 12.6 degree, about two degree below normal. The minimum temperature at world famous ski resort of Gulmarg also received a surge as against yesterdays 10.2 degrees, it was 11.6 degrees, about three notches above normal. There was about one degree increase in the minimum temperature at Pahalgam, where the minimum was 8.4 degrees against yesterdays 7.6 degrees. He said at Leh the minimum temperature was 7.6 degrees against yesterdays 9.5 degrees while at border town of Kargil it was 8.4 degrees against yesterdays 7.4 degrees.