Kashmir has witnessed a dry winter this year with January and February recording an 80% precipitation deficit.
As per Press Trust of India, the development has raised the possibility of a drought in the valley this summer, according to the MeT department officials.
Water levels in several rivers, including the Jhelum, are alarmingly low, and many springs in south Kashmir have dried up due to the receding water table. The region has recorded a 79% precipitation deficit in January, with February showing even worse conditions.
“If the dry weather continues, it will lead to a crisis regarding drinking water and irrigation,” a MeT department official stated
An official from the Irrigation and Flood Control Department highlighted that water levels in the Jhelum and other water bodies are more than a meter below the usual levels for this time of year.
Concerns over the water crisis are exacerbated by the lack of snowfall, which has forced the postponement of the fifth edition of Khelo India Winter Games scheduled to begin on February 22.
Photos and videos circulating on social media show dried-up water bodies and visible river beds, especially in South Kashmir, while the situation in North Kashmir is similarly concerning.
The lack of snowfall at skiing destinations like Gulmarg has also impacted tourism and sports activities in the region.