River Jhelum, its tributaries witness 50% drop in water levels

Srinagar, July 26: The ongoing intense heatwave has significantly impacted water levels in the River Jhelum, with depletion of over 50 percent even as the unrelenting dry spell has further exacerbated the situation, leading to the drying up of several tributaries across Kashmir.

“The water level in River Jhelum has reduced and is now over 50 percent lower due to the ongoing dry spell,” Chief Engineer of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Braham Jyoti Sharma told Greater Kashmir. “The continuous dry spell has also hit the tributaries as they too are drying up.”

In what can be said to be a startling development, some houseboats have anchored on dry ground as water levels have plummeted to unprecedented lows.

This unusual sight underscores the gravity of the current water crisis.

This alarming decline not only threatens the local ecosystem but also poses significant challenges for agriculture, drinking water supply, and hydroelectric power generation.

The drastic reduction in water levels in River Jhelum and its tributaries poses several critical challenges for the people of Kashmir.

Experts say that the agrarian community, heavily reliant on the river and its tributaries for irrigation, faces severe water shortages.

Crops like rice, which require substantial water, are particularly at risk.

This could lead to reduced agricultural yield, impacting the livelihood of farmers and food supply in Kashmir.

Experts said that with the primary source of potable water drying up, residents might face water scarcity in the coming days.

This could necessitate stringent water rationing and potentially lead to health issues due to reduced access to clean drinking water.