TDD Correspondent
Srinagar, (TDD)Jammu and Kashmir has experienced its driest year in four decades, as rainfall plummeted to just 870.9 mm in 2024, marking a staggering 29% deficit from the average annual rainfall of 1232.3 mm. This marks the fifth consecutive year of below-average precipitation, leaving the region’s water resources severely strained and raising alarm over its long-term sustainability.
The rainfall deficit trend has shown a worrying pattern over the past five years, with 2023 recording a 7% shortfall, 2022 seeing a 16% decrease, 2021 at 28%, and 2020 registering a 20% deficit. With the 2024 figures now approaching the region’s historic low of 802.5 mm in 1974, concerns about the region’s climate vulnerability are intensifying.
Detailed monthly rainfall data further illustrates the severity of the situation. The year began with a shocking 91% rainfall deficit in January, followed by significant shortfalls of 17% in February and 16% in March. Despite a brief respite in April, which recorded a 48% surplus, the deficit resumed in May and worsened through the year. By the end of 2024, the region experienced extreme deficits of 74% in October, 69% in November, and 58% in December.
The ramifications of these persistent dry spells are already being felt across multiple sectors. Water shortages are impacting agriculture, with reduced irrigation for crops, while the hydropower sector is seeing diminished capacity due to low water levels in reservoirs. Additionally, drinking water supply has become increasingly unreliable, particularly in rural and high-altitude regions where groundwater levels are already low.
Experts warn that the region’s continued vulnerability to low rainfall could have far-reaching effects on its economy, public health, and overall resilience. Calls for urgent climate adaptation measures have intensified, with recommendations for water conservation, improved irrigation methods, and better water management systems to mitigate the long-term impact of these dry conditions.
As climate change continues to affect precipitation patterns, Jammu and Kashmir faces a critical moment to act. Without significant investment in water infrastructure and sustainable practices, the region could face even more severe drought conditions in the future, threatening its economic stability and the livelihoods of its residents (TDD)
