Climate crisis a universal reality; Coldest October since 1982 in Srinagar

At least three people were killed while several apple orchards were damaged due to snowfall in parts of Kashmir on Saturday. With the onset of winter-like conditions, there was heavy rain in the plains as well.

Meanwhile, Srinagar, Jammu, and Kashmir's summer capital, Pahalgam, a world-famous tourist destination, Kokernag and Qazigund in south Kashmir's Anantnag district received the highest 24-hour rainfall in a decade. The summer capital of the Union Territory also recorded the lowest day temperature in the month of October since 1982.

The Meteorological Department said that there has been a significant reduction in rain/snowfall in many areas of North and Central Kashmir and Jammu region on Saturday evening. (Climate climate in Kashmir)

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“We expect further reduction in rain/snowfall over entire Jammu and Kashmir. Overall, there is every possibility of improvement from tomorrow. After this, no significant change in the weather is expected for the next 10 days.

According to the data compiled by the Meteorological Department from 2011 to 2020, Srinagar recorded the highest 24-hour rainfall of 23.6 mm on 08 October 2014.

Climate climate in Kashmir

The data also states that Pahalgam recorded the highest 24-hour rainfall at 40.0 mm on 20 October 2015, while Kokernag recorded 43.5 mm on 20 October 2015 and Qazigund 30.1 mm on 08 October 2014.

According to officials, Pahalgam received 43.2 mm of rain and 5.6 cm of snow till this morning, while Qazigund received 58.4 mm and Kokernag 50.2 mm. Meanwhile, there has been a drop in the temperature in the Valley and officials said that Srinagar today recorded the lowest day temperature in the month of October.

Director of Meteorological Department, Sonam Lotus said that Srinagar district has recorded the coldest October day since 1982. Meteorological Department officials said that the mercury in Srinagar was recorded at 6.6 degrees Celsius on Saturday.

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In addition, the higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall while the plains received rain. The Srinagar-Jammu Highway, Mughal Road, and Sonmarg-Zojila Road were also closed due to bad weather. The authorities have also decided to keep important roads closed for traffic for tomorrow as well.

Several parts of Kashmir, including the world-famous ski-resort Gulmarg, the world-famous tourist destination Pahalgam, Shopian, Gurez, Zojila, and others, received fresh snowfall in the intervening Friday-Saturday.

Political leaders expressed concern

Meanwhile, CPI(M) leader MY Tarigami has expressed concern over the damage caused to the gardeners by the unseasonal snowfall and demanded immediate compensation for them.

“There are reports of damage to a large number of fruit-bearing trees due to unseasonal snowfall in many parts of the Kashmir Valley. Reportedly, 50 percent of the fruit crop was yet to be harvested in the twin districts of Shopian and Kulgam. Tarigami said in a statement, "The damage done to the gardeners needs to be assessed immediately.

Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers cum Dealers Union (KVFGDU) has written to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha seeking compensation for the affected fruit growers.

The letter reads, "The undersigned would like to inform you that the unseasonal heavy snowfall and rain have damaged and destroyed all fruit orchards in the Valley, especially in Kulgam and Shopian districts of South Kashmir and in North and Central Kashmir, apple crop." “It is unfortunate that the unseasonal heavy snowfall and rainfall has also been one of the “worst” experiences for the horticulture sector, causing unbearable losses to the valley-based fruit growers/dealers, who would otherwise have been facing huge losses for the past several years. or other reasons.

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J&K Farmer Tehreek sought relief for the gardeners affected by incessant rains and unseasonal snowfall. General Secretary of J&K Kisan Tehreek, Ghulam Nabi Malik demanded immediate relief to those gardeners whose fruits and trees were damaged due to incessant rains and unseasonal snowfall in the Valley, especially in South Kashmir.

Malik called for comprehensive compensation for these affected gardeners and said that in the southern districts of Shopian and Kulgam, about 50% of the apples are yet to be harvested.

heavy damage to orchards

The unseasonal snowfall has caused heavy damage to orchards in South Kashmir, especially in the Shopian district, causing huge losses to the growers of the region, news agency KNO reported. According to officials, the damage was severe in Shopian and some other parts of south Kashmir where people had not yet plucked the fruits.

People of South Kashmir's Sedov, Keller, Hirpora, Kachdura, Ramnagari, Aharbal Shadimarg, Shopian, and other hamlets said that they had about 50 to 60 percent of the fruits on the trees, after which they would have done the pruning process but the untimely snowfall caused Everything is damaged.

Nawaz Ahmed, a resident of Kumdulan area of ​​Shopian, said 40 percent of the apples were on trees in the area but the unseasonal snowfall has damaged not only the fruits but also the trees on which he has spent decades.

Bashir, a resident of Sedov hamlet, said the snowfall had damaged his entire crop as most of his produce was still on the trees. Growers said the killing of non-locals led to the loss of many laborers earlier this year and the shortage of labor has delayed the harvesting of the fruits.

After the snowfall, social media has been flooded with pictures and videos showing the magnitude of the damage to orchards and fruits. Growers from different regions said that they have no hope from the government as according to the last time the authorities had given them a compensation of Rs 4000 per person when the loss was in crores.

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