Ashiq Hussain
SRINAGAR, Aug 5: What has caused havoc in many parts of North India has come as a welcome respite for the people of Kashmir valley. The rains since Friday evening have brought relief to people in the mountainous valley after an unexpectedly long spell of dry weather even as dozens are feared dead and hundreds homeless in Jammu region and many northern states like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh.
People in Kashmir want rain to continue for some more days after sweltering in the temperatures as high as 35 degree Celsius, for nearly two months.
While in Jammu division of the state, water level in many rivers is nearing the danger mark, river Jhelum in Kashmir is flowing at leisure.
“The water level in our rivers and other water bodies is still below the normal,” said Kashmir’s head of disaster management cell, Aamir Ali.
“There is no danger of floods in Kashmir,” he said.
The Meteorological department has predicted a cloudy sky on Monday as well even as the maximum temperatures plunged by nine notches to 21.4 degree Celsius on Sunday.
Besides bringing relief from the heat, the change in weather has also brought cheers to the farming community.
“Our maize crop spread on an area of 100,000 hectares desperately needed rains as the dry spell remained too long this year. God was merciful to shower us with rains,” said Director Agriculture, Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad Lone.
The official said that the paddy was not much affected by the dry conditions except some parts in north and south Kashmir dependent on lift irrigation. “The paddy crop is also fine now,” Lone said. “The more the rains the better it is for our agriculture and horticulture,” he added.
People had offered special prayers on Friday in various mosques of the valley as fruit growers feared loss of the crop due to less rainfall.
“The fruit was falling off prematurely affecting its juice content and size,” said President Fruit Growers Association of Kashmir’s Sopore town, Fayaz Ahmad Malik.
“We pray that Allah showers us for some more days,” he said.
(The author is correspondent, Hindustan Times)
