Bairaj Chawalgami
People of Kashmir in particular and Jammu & Kashmir in general sighed a big relief as higher reaches of both Jammu and Kashmir witnessed moderate to heavy snowfall and even some plains of Kashmir saw Chadder of light snow including in Shari Khaas-Srinagar which turned the city into white for a while.
The Jammu as well as Kashmir valley experienced heavy rainfall to the delight of the populace as it broke the dry spell and the people’s worries also diminished particularly in Kashmir as the dry winter now gave place to precipitation which brought joy to the people of both the divisions of Jammu and Kashmir.
It seems that the weather God and nature is pleased and it brought snow and rains which gave lately a goodbye to the dry winter season in Kashmir. It is worthwhile to mention that there was worry, gloom upon the Kashmiris as the water sources like rivers, streams and springs at many places in Kashmir valley were drying and dying making people worried about the future paucity and scarcity of water.
The farmers, agriculturalists, orchardists were feeling the pain because they predicted and forecasted that there will be dry spell, deficit rainfall and scarcity of water for irrigation as well as for drinking. People in general and farmers of Kashmir in particular were skeptical that deficit snow and rainfall will affect the farm products including paddy, pluses and vegetables. But now since two, three days Kashmir as well as Jammu continues to be leashed by rains and even snow in upper reaches and in some plains also and it ceased the dry weather and so the bad days seem to be over in both Jammu and Kashmir.
The heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir regions brought a good message that this year too there will be rich harvest of staple crops like paddy, wheat, pluses and vegetables. Besides the rains will give a goodbye to sickness and ailments like common cold, respiratory problems and viral fever which the people of Jammu and Kashmir division are facing due to completely dry winter.
The snow and rains has led to decrease in cough ,bad cold and other respiratory problems which aggravated with dry spell of winter and consequent dust. However people have got a great relief from these aliments.
Jammu and Kashmir has been experiencing snow and rains since three consecutive days on Thursday with multiple places witnessing snow depth of 3 to 4 feet during this period. In fact we can opine that snow blankets Kashmir in white and the MeT predicts more rain and snow for few days.
The temperature in both Jammu and Kashmir has gone down after having warm and dry winter. In both Jammu as well as in Kashmir people had kept warm clothes in cupboards and now with the onset of rain and snow at the fag end of the winter season have been forced to open their trunks and cupboards to pick up warmers and are now again wearing worm and woolen clothes, jackets and caps.
Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley received a fresh snowfall ,bringing down the temperature and disrupting normal life on Thursday. However people especially the farmers are thanking Almighty for showering rains and snow which the people regard as a good omen for crops, pluses, vegetables and grass for the cattle. Thus people got a measure relief that downpour and snow in various parts of Kashmir valley and higher reaches of the Jammu division is continuing and it is a good news for farmers in particular and other people in general.
Rain and snow will ensure sufficient water for irrigation as well as for drinking.Rains and snow is received with warmth and welcome as people embrace rain and snow and thank God for showering his blessing in the form of rains and snow which is taken as an assurance for good crop in the months to follow.
Inder Daveta – the god of rain is pleased and as such good rainfall is continuing in various places in the whole of Jammu and Kashmir.Wet spell cuts 20% rain deficit in Jammu and Kashmir. The current ongoing wet spell has brought the rain deficit from 80% to 65%. The rain and snow is a big relief and boon for farmers, transporters, hoteliers ,travel agents and travel guides and traders all of them will be benefitted baring farmers who will have to wait from planting paddy saplings and its harvesting but definitely the farmers who are the backbone of the rural economy of Jammu and Kashmir will also be benefitted.
There is joy and delight among tourists on the snowfall and they are thronging in large numbers to winter tourist destinations across Kashmir valley and also Badrawah, Patnitop and other winter tourist destinations. Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Yousmarg, Pahalgam, Sinthantop, Bandipora, Guraz etc. are brimming with tourist footfall due to the current heavy snowfall.
Tourists from different states of India are thronging the winter tourist destinations of Kashmir and are indulging in skating, skiing and other snow adventures. This winter tourist footfall is a means of livelihood to the local people associated with tourism and winter sports.
In fact rain and snow being signs of harsh winter in Kashmir are also the blessing for the people connected with winter tourism and to the farmers, orchardists and agriculturists and all of them welcome rains and snow and the receding of the dry winter spell which is not in the interest of the populace of Jammu and Kashmir.
Pir Panjal range of Jammu division also witnessed heavy snowfall which is taken as the harbinger of fortune in Jammu as well as Kashmir valley. Before the current rainfall and snow scattered a various places of Kashmir ,the water level of river Jhelum and other rivers has receded and there are reports that at number of places in Kashmir, springs and streams have dried and it is a shock warning to the people of Kashmir. Now with the incessant rain fall and snow for the last three days, there is hope among the people of Kashmir who say that rains and snow is the lifeline of the agricultural and rural economy and thank God for the benevolence of showering rains and snow which will ensure good crop in the New Year.
Snow is not confined to Kashmir valley alone, but it is heavily snowing in Baderwah, Kishtwar, Doda etc and thus coldness is intense and March resembles December. MeT has predicted rains and snow for three days including 3rd March .It so good that water reservoirs recharged again especially in Kashmir. Wet spell ended in both the divisions of the JK. Fresh wet spell compensated rainfall deficit by at least 50%.
It also led to the increase in water level of River Jhelum, the life line of Kashmir by and other water bodies by 3-4 feet. Thus rains and snow is not always a bane but is definitely a boon for people of Kashmir and they always pray to God for bringing rain and snow. They say better late than never and it fits appropriately to the current rainfall and snow on the end of the winter season. Surprising there was U turn in weather and rains and snow lashed Kashmir and some districts of Jammu division as well plummeting the mercury.
