Unusually long dry spell causes concern in J&K

Jammu and Srinagar cities on Monday were bathed in bright sunshine as minimum temperatures rose a few notches in both regions.

But the bright sunshine and the dry spell was a matter of more concern than happiness for the locals. There was no snowfall in the Kashmir Valley during December and January -- two months when perennial mountain reservoirs which sustain the state's rivers, lakes, springs and streams in the state are replenished.

The unusual, extended dry spell is becoming a cause of concern for horticulture, agriculture and hydro power generation.

"The minimum temperature in Jammu city was 8.2 degrees Celsius today (Monday) and the maximum is likely to remain around 20 degrees," a meteorological department official said.

"In Srinagar city, the minimum was 0.8 degree below the freezing point while the day's maximum is likely to remain around 11 degrees," the official said.

The minimum was 3.7 degrees Celsius below the freezing point in Pahalgam and minus 3.0 in Gulmarg.

Leh town recorded the minimum temperature of minus 8.4 while Kargil town of the Ladakh region recorded minus 9.4 degrees.

The Vaishno Devi base camp town of Katra recordedthe minimum temperature of 7.5 degrees Celsius, Batote town 4.7 degrees, Banihal town 0.6 degree below the freezing point, Bhaderwah town 1.0 and Udhampur town of Jammu region recorded 4.2.