SRINAGAR: Srinagar sweltered at 37.4°C on Saturday, recording its hottest July day in over 70 years, the local Met office said.

This is the highest July temperature since 1953 and the third-highest ever recorded in the city since 1892.

According to the MeT office, only two days in July have been hotter in Srinagar's recorded history - 38.3°C in 1946 and 38.1°C in 1931.

The unusual heatwave has taken both residents and tourists by surprise. Traditionally known for its moderate summers, Srinagar felt more like Delhi or Amritsar on Friday, say many vacationers.

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"We came here to escape the heat of Delhi, but this feels no different," said Pooja Mehra, a tourist from the national capital. "It's so hot during the day that we're staying indoors - this doesn't feel like Kashmir at all."

Daljeeet Singh, a tourist from Punjab visiting with his family, echoed the sentiment. "We had expected a cool breeze, but what we've seen is sweltering heat. Even our hotel room fans aren't enough - Kashmir feels like Ludhiana today."

Officials said the Valley is experiencing an extended dry spell, with high day temperatures and no significant rainfall in weeks. "This is clearly not normal. Climate variability, reduced moisture, and altered wind patterns are all contributing to this spike in temperatures," said MeT official in Srinagar.

The heat has also triggered water shortages and put stress on power infrastructure as the demand for fans, air coolers, and water pumps surges. With the mercury soaring, streets remained deserted during peak afternoon hours as residents stayed indoors to avoid the blistering heat.

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Locals say this is the harshest summer in memory. "It's unbearable in the afternoons. We've never seen this kind of prolonged heatwave," said Shakeela Begum, a resident of old city Srinagar.

Forecasts indicate the hot weather is likely to continue for a few more days with some respite from Monday, with the possibility of light rainfall.

This latest heatwave comes as a growing reminder of Kashmir's vulnerability to changing climatic patterns, with experts urging stronger measures to adapt to extreme weather events and preserve the region's fragile ecology.