Jammu, Jul 30 : Since the heat wave continues to engulf the entire region and many previous records have been broken with Kashmir valley witnessing hottest night in 132 years, the Chenab valley is one of the worst affected areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
The temperature in a few places has touched 40 degrees Celsius and there is no respite from the hot weather conditions.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), both Chenab valley and Kashmir valley have witnessed deficit rainfall in the month of July which led to increase in day temperature and even during the night temperature kept rising.
Chenab valley comprises Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts and weather in this part of the union territory keep changing. During the winters upper reaches witness heavy snowfall like Kashmir valley and temperature in many parts goes below zero degrees Celsius, whereas during the summers the weather resembles with Jammu and use of air conditioning equipment has increased tremendously in the area to beat the heat.
Moreover, the area didn’t have many showers this year as monsoon clouds couldn’t cross the Patnitop hills to bring relief to the people. The absence of rain has impacted various sectors including horticulture and agriculture, and most of the streams in the areas have either less water or are running dry.
The horticulture experts told KNO that less rain has affected the Apple and pear production in the area which till the beginning of the month of July was being seen as a bumper crop. “Apples and pears have received black spots and due to less rainfall the size of these fruits is small. The local farmers were expecting a good amount for their produce but now their hopes have almost shattered,” the officer said.
Secondly, the Chenab valley’s agriculture is mostly dependent on rain as most of the areas don’t have irrigation canals. With less rainfall, the maize crop has been affected a lot and farmers believe that if the crop doesn’t get rain in upcoming days, they will have to bear the loss.
Thirdly, people in most of the areas in Chenab valley are dependent on streams for drinking water, and as the water level has decreased tremendously in the streams, people fear a drought situation in upcoming days. “Firstly, during the winters the area didn’t have much snowfall and now the absence of rain during the month of July has increased our worries. If the situation continues to remain the same, life will become difficult,” said Niaz Ahmed, a local farmer of Doda.
