Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 29: City roads wore a deserted look in the afternoon hours as Jammu recorded this season’s maximum temperature with mercury touching 41.8 degree Celsius today.
Rising continuously for the last four-five days, the maximum temperature in Jammu today reached near 42 degree Celsius, around two degrees more than the yesterday.
The intense heat wave forced people to remain indoor resulting into a deserted look on the ever busy city roads with a very thin vehicular movement.
Maximum shopkeepers also downed shutters of their establishment in the afternoon for some relief from the blistering sun while no roadside vendor was visible in the open.
To seek refuge from the intense heat wave, a number of people, particularly children and youth, reached Ranbir Canal where heavy rush was witnessed notwithstanding a working day today.
People were seen covering face and carrying umbrellas to protect themselves from the direct sunlight. Roadside vendors selling sugarcane juice, ice candies and lemon water witnessed rush due to heat.
Even as strong winds started blowing in the evening providing some relief from heat wave, the repeated power failure deprived people of fans and coolers.
According to Metrology Department, the mercury is likely to keep rising in Jammu and Kashmir and there will be no respite from the heat wave in the days ahead.
While maximum temperature in Jammu was 41.8 degree Celsius, the minimum temperature registered was 24.4 degree Celsius.
Yesterday, the maximum temperature was 39.9 degree Celsius and minimum 23-3 degree Celsius.
The maximum temperature had earlier crossed 40 degree Celsius on May 1 when it was registered at 40.3 degree Celsius.
Maximum educational institutions have declared summer vacations from Monday while Government is also likely to announce the two month break next week.