By: Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Nov 05: Higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall on Wednesday evening as the Meteorological Centre Srinagar forecast another spell of rain and snow from November 10, even as prolonged dry conditions have left water levels in the Jhelum and several tributaries below normal.
Snowfall was recorded at Razdan Pass and several other higher-altitude areas as weather turned cloudy across parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the MeT forecast, weather is expected to remain generally dry from November 6 to 9. A fresh spell of precipitation is likely from the evening of November 10, with light to moderate rainfall in plains and snowfall over higher reaches at scattered to many places till November 11.
Another spell of light to moderate rain and snowfall is likely at many places on November 12, particularly during the evening and night. Weather is expected to improve on November 14 and 15, with partly cloudy conditions.
Meanwhile, Pahalgam recorded the coldest night in Kashmir at 1.5 degrees Celsius, followed by Gulmarg at 2.0 degrees Celsius and Kupwara at 2.1 degrees Celsius. Srinagar recorded 4.0 degrees Celsius, Qazigund 3.3 degrees Celsius and Kokernag 6.1 degrees Celsius.
In Jammu division, Jammu city recorded 15.1 degrees Celsius, Banihal 5.6 degrees Celsius, Batote 9.1 degrees Celsius, Katra 14.0 degrees Celsius and Bhaderwah 4.8 degrees Celsius.
The weather department has advised farmers to continue harvesting and other agricultural operations until November 10 and ensure safe storage of harvested crops. Travellers and transporters have also been advised to follow traffic advisories and plan their journeys accordingly.
Meanwhile, water levels in the Jhelum and several tributaries remain below normal following prolonged dry spells, raising concerns over water availability during the approaching winter.
Data released by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department showed that at 9 am on Wednesday, the Jhelum was flowing at minus 0.64 feet at Sangam, while the gauge at Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar recorded 3.80 feet. At Asham in North Kashmir, the level stood at 1.19 feet, while Wular Lake was recorded at 1573.84 metres.
Among the tributaries, Vishow Nallah at Khudwani recorded 2.41 metres, Rambiyara Nallah at Wachi minus 0.48 metres, Lidder Nallah at Batkoot minus 0.52 metres, Doodhganga at Barzulla 0.26 metres and Sindh Nallah at Doderhama minus 0.25 metres.
Independent weather forecaster Faizan Arif warned that another prolonged dry spell could aggravate water scarcity, affecting drinking water supplies and hydropower generation.
“Water levels are below normal, and we have a dry spell ahead in Kashmir Valley. This could trigger shortages of drinking water and affect electricity generation, particularly if water availability continues to decline,” he said.
Arif said several natural springs in South Kashmir had also dried up following continued dry conditions, adding to concerns over water availability for rural communities.
A study published in Frontiers in Water, titled GIS-Based Inventory and Utility Assessment of Spring Resources in the Kashmir Himalaya, mapped 649 springs across Anantnag and Kulgam districts during field surveys in 2021 and 2022. It found that 76 springs, or 11.7 per cent, were completely dry, while 8.5 per cent were seasonal and 79.8 per cent perennial.
The study found that domestic requirements, including drinking, cooking and washing, accounted for the largest share of spring water use. Communities also reported declining spring discharge and reliability over the preceding five to 10 years, although researchers noted that the absence of long-term hydrological records prevented independent verification of these trends.
The latest gauge readings represent water levels at a particular time and are not seasonal averages or a direct measure of drinking water availability. However, declining spring flows and the prospect of further dry periods have renewed concerns over Kashmir’s water security. (KNO)
