KINS DESK
Srinagar, Sep 30 (KINS): The 2024 monsoon season has come to an end, and Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a significant 26% deficit in rainfall.
Between June 1 and September 30, the region received only 408.5 mm of rainfall, far below the normal 549.1 mm expected during this period.
The shortfall has had serious implications for agriculture and water resources across the union territory.
As per news agency KINS, Srinagar, the summer capital, recorded a 30% deficit in rainfall, with most other districts in the Kashmir Valley experiencing severe shortages. “Except for Pulwama, which saw a relatively moderate deficit of 13%, districts in the Valley recorded rainfall deficits ranging from -50% to -80%. Baramulla was the only district in Kashmir that defied the trend, receiving 1% above the normal rainfall”.
In the Jammu region, Samba stood out as the best-performing district, receiving 13% more rainfall than expected. Jammu itself matched its normal rainfall, while all other districts in the region saw rainfall deficits ranging from -15% to -76%, exacerbating concerns about water scarcity.
While Jammu and Kashmir faced a deficit, the neighboring union territory of Ladakh fared better, with surplus rainfall of 17%. Leh district recorded an 18% surplus, and Kargil saw 8% more rainfall than usual, offering some relief to the high-altitude desert region.
The below-average monsoon performance across Jammu and Kashmir, coupled with surplus rain in Ladakh, is expected to impact agriculture, water supply, and the overall climate in the region in the coming months.(KINS)
