J&K faces severe rainfall deficit; 80% shortfall in 3 months
Srinagar, Feb 18: Jammu and Kashmir is grappling with a significant rainfall deficit, with an overall shortfall of 80 percent in the past three months.
According to data from the Meteorological Department, January was the driest month in recent history, registering a staggering 91 per cent reduction in both snowfall and rainfall. This has raised serious concerns regarding water availability, agriculture, and J&K’s ecology, which heavily relies on winter precipitation.
By February 12, all districts of J&K had reported a severe precipitation shortfall ranging between 70 per cent and 80 per cent. This deficit is expected to have far-reaching consequences, particularly for the agricultural sector, which depends on timely snowfall for soil moisture and replenishment of water sources. With minimal snowfall and a prolonged dry spell, water reservoirs in the Kashmir Valley are struggling to fill, and most rivers, including the Jhelum—considered Kashmir’s lifeline—are flowing below the ‘zero level.’
Alarming decline in river water levels
Over the past 45 days, a significant decline in river water levels has been recorded due to insufficient snowmelt and low precipitation. At Sangam in Pulwama, the Jhelum’s water level has dropped to minus 1.01 feet, while at Ram Munshi Bagh, it stood at 3.52 feet, and at Asham, the level had fallen to 0.75 feet.
According to the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department, small rivers and streams, including Lidder, Ram Biaara, Ferozepur (Drang), and Pohru (Seelu), have also reached critically low levels. Officials attribute this concerning trend to a snow-deficient winter, which has left water bodies starved of their usual replenishment.
Meteorological Department officials said that Kashmir has recorded a 79 per cent rainfall deficit, with only 29.8 mm of precipitation from January 1 to February 12, 2025. “This is an alarming situation, as the absence of snowfall impacts not only drinking water availability but also agriculture and hydroelectric power generation,” the officials warned.
Snowfall forecast
The Meteorological Department has predicted possible relief in the coming days, with two Western Disturbances expected to bring precipitation. Rain and snowfall are forecast between February 19-22 and again between February 25-27. “This could be the heaviest snowfall of the season,” said a Met official. However, he cautioned that a single spell of precipitation might not be sufficient to fully replenish the water deficit. The last snowfall in Kashmir’s plains, including Srinagar, was recorded on January 4, making this one of the driest winters in recent memory.
