Jammu Kashmir has recorded its driest year in four decades, with rainfall plunging to 870.9 mm in 2024—29 per cent below the normal annual average of 1232.3 mm.
According to Kashmir weather, This significant deficit has sparked panic across the Union Territory, already grappling with the impacts of prolonged dry spells on agriculture, energy, and water supply.
The latest figures mark the fifth consecutive year of below-normal precipitation in the region. Rainfall levels have been steadily declining, with 2023 recording a 7% deficit (1146.6 mm), 2022 witnessing a 16% deficit (1040.4 mm), and 2021 seeing a 28% drop (892.5 mm).
With this year’s numbers nearing the previous low of 802.5 mm recorded in 1974, concerns are growing over the region’s ecological and economic stability.
Monthly data from 2024 illustrates the severity of the crisis. January alone recorded a staggering 91% shortfall, with February and March following with deficits of 17% and 16%, respectively.
April offered a brief reprieve with a 48% surplus, but the months that followed were marked by sharp deficits: 67% in May, 38% in June, 36% in July, and 2% in August.
The year ended on an alarming note, with shortfalls of 41% in September, 74% in October, 69% in November, and 58% in December.
Environmental experts attribute this alarming trend to a combination of climate change and aggressive land-use changes.
The large-scale construction of roads, tunnels, and other infrastructure projects has led to the cutting of lakhs of trees, drastically altering local ecosystems.
The loss of vegetation has diminished the region’s ability to retain moisture, disrupting rainfall patterns and intensifying drought conditions.
Additionally, unplanned urbanization and reduced snow accumulation in the Himalayan ranges have further strained water availability.
These factors, compounded by rising temperatures, are contributing to a critical situation, with far-reaching impacts on agriculture, hydropower generation, and drinking water supply.
The growing crisis highlights the urgent need for sustainable development and water management strategies in Jammu Kashmir.
Experts are calling for immediate measures, including reforestation along road networks, rainwater harvesting initiatives, and efficient irrigation systems, to combat the worsening impacts of dry spells in the region.