Snowfall Restores Life to Kashmir’s Parched Springs, Rivers
Much-awaited winter spell recharges groundwater, revives fading water sources and eases fears of a looming crisis, say experts
Our Special Correspondent
Srinagar: The first major spell of snowfall across Kashmir has brought a wave of relief to a Valley grappling with shrinking water resources, as nearly dry springs, streams and rivers have begun showing signs of revival. After a prolonged dry winter that raised alarm among experts and residents alike, the snow-covered mountains and catchments are once again performing their natural role as Kashmir’s water bank.
Hydrology officials say the snowfall has significantly improved groundwater recharge, a process crucial for sustaining thousands of natural springs that supply drinking water to rural and semi-urban areas.
“Unlike rainfall, which runs off quickly, snowfall melts slowly and steadily. This allows water to percolate deep into the soil, replenishing aquifers and restoring springs that had almost stopped flowing,” said a senior hydrologist with the Water Resources Department. “We are already seeing improved discharge levels in several spring-fed streams.”
The impact is being felt across south, central and north Kashmir, where residents report a visible increase in water flow in local nallahs and traditional springs. Many of these sources had dwindled to a trickle following months of precipitation deficit.
“For the first time in decades, we feared our spring had died,” said Ghulam Mohammad, a 72-year-old resident of Anantnag district. “This snowfall has brought it back. Water is flowing again, and people feel reassured.”
Elderly residents, regarded as living witnesses to Kashmir’s changing climate, say the revival underscores how deeply the region depends on winter snow. “Earlier, snowfall would begin early and last long. Rivers never ran dry,” recalled an octogenarian from Budgam. “In recent years, winters became uncertain and water started disappearing. This snowfall feels like nature correcting itself.”
Environmental experts warn that declining snowfall over recent years has severely disturbed Kashmir’s hydrological cycle. “The Jhelum basin is snow-fed. Reduced snow accumulation directly affects river discharge during the lean months,” said a climate scientist at Kashmir University. “This year’s snowfall is critical because it will help maintain base flow during spring and summer, reducing stress on drinking water supply and irrigation.”
The snowfall is also expected to benefit agriculture and horticulture, particularly apple orchards, which rely on adequate winter chill and soil moisture. “Snow protects the soil, prevents premature flowering and kills pests,” said a senior horticulture official. “It also ensures sustained moisture availability when the growing season begins.”
Meteorological experts, while welcoming the snowfall, cautioned that one spell cannot compensate for years of erratic precipitation caused by climate change. “The trend shows delayed and uneven snowfall patterns. This should be seen as a reminder of the urgency to conserve water, protect wetlands and preserve forested catchments,” an official of the Meteorological Department said.
Water management specialists have also stressed the need to revive traditional water bodies and regulate unplanned urban expansion that blocks natural recharge zones. “Springs are sensitive systems. If catchments are damaged, no amount of snowfall will save them in the long run,” an expert noted.
For now, the snowfall has done more than transform Kashmir into a winter postcard. It has restored flowing veins to a parched landscape, revived fading springs, and reaffirmed a simple truth long known to its people—that Kashmir’s water security begins with snow.
