Srinagar, June 12 -- Independent weather forecaster Faizan Arif Keng said Jammu ranked 68th on the global list of hottest spots, as temperatures remained significantly above normal across the region for the third consecutive day.

The intense heat also pushed Qazigund - the gateway town to the Kashmir Valley - to new extremes. With the mercury hitting 34.6degC, it equalled its third-highest recorded temperature for June since 1962, matching the mark last seen on June 23, 2023.

According to Keng, Qazigund's second-highest temperature for June stands at 35.3degC recorded on June 27, 1988, while the all-time high remains 35.7degC, recorded a day earlier on June 26 that year.

Other areas also witnessed sweltering conditions. Srinagar sizzle...