Dry spell likely to affect agriculture, health in IHK

Srinagar, December 08 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, the prevalent dry spell is likely to affect the agriculture, health and the routine life of the people across the Kashmir Valley.

An official of the Jammu and Kashmir Metrological department in a media interview predicted that the days and nights ahead would be chilly and temperature would dip further. “The Kashmir Valley is witnessing freezing cold conditions with the night temperature dipping to minus 3 degrees Celsius. There has been no development of Western Disturbance, a phenomenon that brings rain in the region, for sometime now and it is preventing any kind of precipitation,” he added.

The Chief Engineer of Jammu and Kashmir Public Health Engineering (PHE), Ghulam Rasool Zargar, said that the continued dry weather could result in water shortage in the valley. He said that since there had been little rains for the past few months, the water level was depleting fast in streams, Nullahs and springs which acted as major water supply resources to Srinagar and other area of the Valley.

The Director of Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Department, Mian Abdul Majeed, said that the continuation of dry spell might delay the germination of crops like peas and wheat. A fruit grower, Ghulam Muhammad Dar, said, “If there is no rain or snowfall for coming week or so the fruit bearing trees will catch disease which will ultimately affect the crop production next season.”

Health experts warned that cold-related diseases and acute viral infection would be common among people especially children if no rains occurred in coming month. “There are chances of bacterial infections due to dry weather which can turn chronic,” said a doctor at Srinagar Medical College.

Advising the people, he said, “It is better to remain indoor during early morning and late evening times when temperature dips.”

Source: Kashmir Media Service.
Link: http://www.kmsnews.org/news/dry-spell-likely-affect-agriculture-health-ihk.