Dry spell Kashmir Archives - The Kashmiriyat

Jan252024 by News DeskNo Comments

Despite dry spell, Tourist footfall in January at Pahalgam higher than last year

REGIONAL

Despite the prolonged dry spell in Kashmir, Pahalgam, the renowned tourist destination in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, has witnessed a footfall of around 50 thousand tourists in the ongoing month. Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Pahalgam Development Authority, Tariq Ahmad Naik informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that while the extended dry spell has impacted tourism, the destination continues to attract visitors. He said efforts were underway to position Pahalgam as a full-fledged winter destination this year, but the absence of snow has affected those plans. “Tourists have been visiting, but the flow might have been more with snow,” he said Despite the challenges, Naik said they remain hopeful. He said around 50,000 tourists have visited here this month, whi...

Jan242024 by News DeskNo Comments

Three western disturbances likely to end Kashmir’s two-month long dry spell

REGIONAL

A private weather forecaster (Kashmir Weather) on Tuesday predicted a possible light to moderate snowfall over high reaches of Kashmir under the influence of first Western Disturbance, while it said the higher reaches of Ladakh may witness light snowfall between 25th and 26th January. While ruling out any major weather disturbance he told News Agency Kashmir Scroll that light rain/snow showers can occur over plains of Kashmir on 26th of January. He said the second Western Disturbances are expected from 28-January to 30th January, which may cause moderate snowfall over higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir with Doodpathri, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Gurez, Sinthan Top and Peer Ki Gali having chances of heavy snowfall. During the second Western Disturbances, the plains of Kashmir ma...

Jan172024 by News DeskNo Comments

Amid dry spell, officials warn people against moving into forest areas in Kashmir

REGIONAL

In response to the prolonged dry spell in Kashmir, authorities have imposed a ban on unauthorized entry into forests and Wildlife Protected Areas. The Wildlife Department issued a notice urging people to refrain from any activities in these areas due to the heightened risk of forest fires. The ban specifically applies to locations such as Brane, Nishat Conservation Reserve, Dachigam National Park, Dara Conservation Reserve, Khrew/Khanmoh Conservation Reserve, Wangath Conservation Reserve, and Thajwas Wildlife Sanctuary. Violators will face strict consequences under the Wildlife Protection Act, officials said.

Jan172024 by News DeskNo Comments

Dry spell: Mustard crops show deficiency symptoms

REGIONAL

The ongoing dry spell has raised concerns among farmers in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, who have sown mustard crops. The insufficient rainfall or snowfall has led to deficiency symptoms in these crops, farmers said. Mustard is an annual crop in Kashmir harvested in April and is also utilised as a double crop. The seeds are sown in October and reaped during the last weeks of both April and May. The prolonged dry spell poses a threat to the burgeoning mustard crop in Kashmir, with farmers expressing concern over adverse weather conditions. Ghulam Rasool Shah, a farmer based in Anantnag, told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the lack of precipitation or regular snowfall over the last two months has impacted the mustard crop. He said the mustard crop is inc...

Jan152024 by News DeskNo Comments

Kashmir’s cry for snow: Farmer’s resort to prayers amidst drying rivers, dry spell

WRITE-UPS

Bhat Yasir Every morning, Abdul Ahad Khan, a 59-year-old farmer from Batengoo in Khanabal, makes a pilgrimage to the banks of the Jhelum, a mere 400 meters from his home. "I come here every morning to check the water levels of Jhelum. This water level in Jhelum is our lifeline. Our food produce, agriculture, water, and everything else depend on this water. But it looks like it has not been snowing up in the mountains. It worries me. Kashmir has seen the worst of times for the last four years," laments Khan. As on Sunday, water level in the Jhelum River has reached its lowest point due to a prolonged dry spell in Kashmir. “River Jhelum was flowing at -0.75 feet at Sangam (Anantnag district) and -0.86 feet at Asham (Bandipora district) on Sunday morning. This is the lowest water level ...

Jan142024 by News DeskNo Comments

Prolonged dry spell impacts sales of foam, fur and waterproof shoes

REGIONAL

The extended dry spell that has gripped the Valley is having a profound impact on local businesses, with footwear shops experiencing a notable dip in sales. Many footwear wholesalers and retailers told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that 90 percent winter footwear stock is still on shelves and that they don't expect any positive turn around now. “Half of the Chilaie-Kalan is over now, more than 90% of the winter stock we had purchased remains unsold. We are hardly witnessing any sales,” said a footwear wholesaler in Lal Chowk in Srinagar. Another footwear wholesaler in Batamaloo area said majority of their water proof, foam and fur shoes were still packed in boxes as they are witnessing no demand due to ongoing dry spell. “This dry spell has incurred a huge financial l...

Jan142024 by News DeskNo Comments

Amid dry spell, Jhelum river hits historic lows, Temperature records soar

REGIONAL

In a concerning turn of events, the Jhelum River, a lifeline for the Kashmir Valley, is experiencing historic lows at Sangam in south Kashmir and Asham in north Kashmir. The gauge reading at Sangam reached -0.75 ft at 9 a.m., a level not seen since November 2017. Similarly, Asham recorded an all-time low of 0.86 ft at 9 a.m. Adding to the woes, Jammu City shivers at 2.5°C, recording the lowest January temperature since 2017. The current temperature is 4.5°C below the average for this time of the year, with the all-time lowest temperature of 0.5°C recorded on January 24, 2016. In various regions across the valley, temperature records are being shattered, signaling an unprecedented deviation from the historical norms. Qazigund, with its temperature reaching 15.8°C, has marked the...

Sep292023 by News DeskNo Comments

Dry spell forces electricity department to start power curtailment in Kashmir

REGIONAL

With prolonged dry spell leading to the reduction in water level in most of the water bodies across the Valley, the Kashmir-based power houses are generating less electricity, prompting the government to go ahead with power curtailment, causing immense hardships to the people. Pertinently, August and September—2023 has recorded deficient rainfall while the hot and humid weather conditions continued for weeks together, breaking the decades old record in the month of September. The hot and humid weather conditions resulted in reduction in water level in the famous water bodies including river Jhelum, Chena, Doodh Ganga and others following which the people complained of water scarcity in their areas. However, with the passage of time, the consumers across the Valley have been compla...

Sep142023 by News DeskNo Comments

Kashmir stares at water crisis as dry spell expected to continue

REGIONAL

As dry spell sweeps, Kashmir Valley is staring at a massive water crisis even the Chief Engineer Public Health Engineering Department (PHE) admitted that it is an alarming situation and that people should use water judiciously. Much to the concern of the government almost all the water bodies have dried up forcing the PHE department to supply potable water in water tankers in different localities, that face water shortages. “The dry spell is definitely going to hit us. Even at present the situation is quite alarming. Water is a natural product and we can’t generate it. We have to distribute whatever is available with us and so people have to understand it and use it judiciously,” Chief Engineer PHE, Sanjeev Malhotra told the news agency Kashmir News Trust. The dry spell as per the...

Dec162022 by News DeskNo Comments

Dry spell intensifies respiratory ailments, doctors

REGIONAL

Cases of respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV, and influenza have increased in the last few weeks because of dry season and less humidity is becoming perfect breeding grounds for viruses in winters. Influenza expert and President Doctors Association of Kashmir Dr Nisar Ul Hassan told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that four viruses including H3N2, H1N1 and two B viruses are circulating this year with H3N2 more dominant causing more severity. He suggested people to get vaccinated and take precautions such as consulting doctors faced with breathing issues, staying home when sick, avoiding gatherings and maintaining personal hygiene. "Winter is the time for these respiratory viruses because they have a peculiarity and they thrive and get activated in cold,” Dr Nisar add...