Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Jul 8: Despite a brief spell of rainfall plummeting the maximum temperatures in central Kashmir on Monday, the water level in River Jhelum has shown “only a marginal rise,” while the water scarcity continues to grip several areas of Srinagar, triggering fresh public anger.
As per the data from the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) department, the water level at Sangam stood at 0.51 feet on July 8 (today), up from 0.33 feet on July 7, but still lower than 0.57 feet recorded earlier.
The same trend was observed at other key locations: Munshi Bagh’s gauge rose to 2.11 ft (from 1.94 ft), but was down from 2.47 ft the previous day. Asham increased from 2.14 ft to 2.30 ft, while Wullar Lake’s level slightly dipped to 1574.75m compared to 1574.97m on June 30.
Moreover, Independent Weather Forecaster, Faizan Arif Keng told KNO that the rise is too minor to make a real impact. “There has been a marginal rise of just 0.1 to 0.5 feet in Jhelum’s water level. The rainfall was concentrated over central Kashmir, while southern parts remained mostly dry,” he said.
He said only a widespread spell of rain, followed by periodic showers, can meaningfully revive the Jhelum and other rivers while maintaining its flow.
Meanwhile, the water scarcity today sparked a protest in Srinagar’s Gawkadal. As water levels remain low, water scarcity woes have deepened in many other parts of Srinagar.
Today, on Tuesday, women in Gawkadal took to the streets in protest, shouting slogans against the Jal Shakti Department. “We haven’t received drinking water for the past several days. Our children are suffering in this heat,” said Shahzada, a local woman protester.
Another local said despite repeated complaints, officials have done nothing. “Rain fell yesterday, but our taps are still dry,” he added.
Meanwhile, residents in several other areas of downtown and upper town like Habba Kadal, Nowpora, Eidgah, Chattabal and others also reported irregular water supply, forcing them to rely on bottled water or distant public taps.
Notably, yesterday’s rainfall brought down Srinagar’s temperature from 34.3°C to 20°C, while it also led to tree falls, road blockages, and water logging in many areas.
Similarly, the Meteorological department (MeT) has also predicted more light to moderate rains till July 8 evening, with experts warning that unless rainfall becomes uniform across Kashmir, the hydrological situation may remain stressed. (KNO)
