Srinagar receives first monsoon showers, temperature dips

Srinagar, July 12 (UNI) After witnessing a fortnight-long hot weather the summer capital of the Jammu and Kashmir is now cool as it experienced first monsoon showers today.

For the first time after about a month the minimum temperature was recorded 17.5 degrees Celsius, 0.5 degrees below normal, a spokesman of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) told UNI.

He said 29.2 mm rainfall was recorded in Srinagar this morning which resulted in drop in the mercury.

More rainfall is predicted during the next 24 hours.

However, life remained affected because of acute shortage of water and frequent power cuts, forcing people to take to the streets.

The rains have finally brought some respite to the people who were facing heat wave conditions for about a fortnight with both night and day temperatures up by several degrees from normal.

The minimum temperature recorded yesterday was 21.5 degrees Celsius, two degree above normal while the maximum temperature was also two degrees above normal at 32.2.

The spokesman said the sky will remain generally cloudy with rains at some places on Pahalgam-Amarnath cave shrine route.

Residents of several parts of the Valley have complained of acute shortage of drinking water and electricity. Several areas in the city were without electricity for many hours.

UNI BAS AK GC1612