Srinagar, Feb 17: As Kashmir experiences its third consecutive snowless winter, water bodies, including the Jhelum River, are receding and flowing below the ‘zero level.’
At Sangam, the Jhelum’s water level has dropped to -1.01 feet, below the Reduced Level (RL) of zero on the gauge. At Ram Munshi Bagh, it stands at 3.52 feet, while at Asham, it has fallen to 0.75 feet, according to official data.
The Irrigation & Flood Control Department reported that several other water bodies, including the Lidder, Rambiyara, Ferozpora (Drung), and Pohru (Seelu), are also flowing below the RL of zero.
Officials from the department attributed the low water levels to the ongoing snowless winter. “The persistent rainfall deficit has affected the recharging of water reservoirs across the Valley,” they stated.
This marks the third consecutive year that Kashmir has not received heavy snowfall during Chillai Kalan, the harshest winter period in the region. Even when it does snow, the precipitation is largely confined to higher reaches.
Notably, Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a 29% overall rainfall deficit so far, with January 2024 witnessing the highest deficiency at 91%.
Additionally, all districts in the region have recorded a significant rainfall shortfall in the first two months of the year. Between January 1 and February 12, 2025, the region received only 29.8 mm of rainfall—79% below the normal precipitation of 140 mm.
A senior official from the Jal Shakti Department warned that the situation could impact the drinking water supply. “We are in a position where I cannot say with certainty whether we have sufficient or insufficient drinking water for the consumers in Kashmir,” the official said.
(KNO Inputs)