Nearly three months of the prolonged dry spell came to an end in the Kashmir Valley on Thursday as rains lashed the plains and higher reaches received fresh snowfall.
The people associated with the farming community rejoiced after fresh rainfall lashed the valley plains after such a long dry spell.
Several springs have dried up, and power generation from hydroelectric power projects dropped by 80 per cent due to the extended dry spell. Meanwhile, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir also postponed the ‘Khelo India 2025’ winter games scheduled in the ski resort of Gulmarg due to a shortage of snowfall.
MET Department Director Mukhtar Ahmad said, “Today’s rain/snow has broken the extended dry spell. This will lead to increased discharge in rivers and streams in the coming days. If the present weather model holds, Jammu and Kashmir will have more rain and snow between February 26 and February 28. The present model indicates the forecast to have a strong probability.”
Locals have been praying for rainfall and expecting it would restore the centuries-old perennial springs that had dried up and help those witnessing very low water discharge.
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Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 4.4 degrees Celsius, Gulmarg minus 2.8 degrees Celsius, and Pahalgam 1.2 degrees Celsius.
Jammu city recorded a minimum temperature of 11.9 degrees Celsius, Katra town 9 degrees Celsius, Batote 3.7 degrees Celsius, Banihal 2.4 degrees Celsius and Bhaderwah 4.4 degrees Celsius.
Usually, all the perennial water reservoirs of Jammu and Kashmir up in the mountains get replenished by heavy snowfall during the winter months.
This replenishment of perennial water reservoirs sustains rivers, streams, springs, lakes, and other water bodies in Jammu and Kashmir during the hot summer months.
However, a deficiency in rain and snowfall during the winter months spells disaster, leading to water shortages in the summer months.
Additionally, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in a post on X, wrote, “J&K is staring at a water crisis this year. It’s not a new issue; it’s been growing for a few years now.”
The Chief Minister further highlighted the importance of collective action, saying that addressing the crisis will require more than just government efforts.
“While the government must adopt a proactive approach to water management and conservation, it can’t be a government-only initiative. All of us—residents of J&K—must reconsider how we use and waste water,” he said.
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