From a trough-like situation that turned paddy fields in several parts of Kashmir into plains of dry clay last month to the sudden surge in the water level of Jhelum due to four days of rain that triggered floods, Kashmir’s rapidly changing weather is creating havoc.
Last Wednesday, a flood alert was sounded by authorities after continuous rains led to a surge in the level of most water bodies with the Jhelum river crossing danger level at various locations. Many areas in south and central Kashmir, including Srinagar were submerged. Some higher reaches also received fresh snow, triggering a cold wave across Kashmir.
However, just before the flood alert was sounded, Kashmir had witnesses a rain-deficit spring months and Jhelum River had recorded its lowest water level in many years, prompting the authorities to advise farmers to abandon the plans of sowing paddy and instead opt for low water requiring crops such as wheat and corn.
In the first five months this year, Jammu and Kashmir recorded a rain deficiency of 38 percent, according to Indian meteorological department. According to officials, more than 4000 hectares of paddy land were either abandoned by farmers for the fear of suffering losses in buying seeds and hiring labour, or alternate crops were sown.
According to experts, the scarcity of water for irrigation followed by a sudden threat of flood is an indication that Kashmir is slowly suffering from the effects of climate change. According to officials, the frequency of extreme and erratic weather events is only going to increase in the Himalayas which will have a direct impact on Jammu and Kashmir.
“There have been several weather events over the past few years which suggest that the erratic weather conditions are likely to grow in coming years. The duration of dry periods has increased and so has the intensity of heat waves. Even in March and April, which are believed to mark the onset of spring, several weather incidents including heatwaves were reported in Jammu and Kashmir,” a senior official said.
The official said that the extended duration of dry spells and sudden floods are going to be the new trends in Kashmir’s climate, “As a society, we need to think seriously about the climate change and take proactive measures to stop its march in J&K. Being an agriculture-based economy, if such steps are not taken soon, we are doomed,” the official said.