Jhelum and tributaries show low water levels in Kashmir
Declining river levels and drying springs have raised concerns regarding drinking water and electricity generation as the region enters winter.
Water levels in the River Jhelum and its tributaries are currently below normal in Kashmir following extended dry periods, according to the Kashmir Observer. The Irrigation and Flood Control Department released gauge readings on Wednesday showing the water level at Sangam was minus 0.64 feet at 9 am.
Other recorded levels include 3.80 feet at Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar and 1.19 feet at Asham in north Kashmir. Wular Lake was recorded at 1573.84 metres, while several tributaries such as Vishow Nallah, Rambiyara Nallah, and Lidder Nallah also showed low readings.
Weather forecaster Faizan Arif said water levels across the Valley are below normal and warned that a dry spell ahead could lead to drinking water shortages and impact electricity generation. Arif also noted that several local springs in south Kashmir have dried up.
A study in the journal Frontiers in Water, titled GIS-Based Inventory and Utility Assessment of Spring Resources in the Kashmir Himalaya, found that 76 springs surveyed in Anantnag and Kulgam districts were completely dry. The research, based on 2021 and 2022 surveys, noted that 11.7 per cent of the 649 mapped springs were dry.
The Meteorological Centre Srinagar has forecast generally dry weather from November 6 to 9. This is expected to be followed by light to moderate rainfall and snowfall in higher reaches between November 10 and 13.