Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President, Tariq Hameed Karra on Friday said that the party will be holding a march in Srinagar on Saturday to press for the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Karra, while speaking to KNO said that the march will be led by him and will start from the party headquarters in Srinagar.

He said that the party has sought permission for the march, which is scheduled to begin in the morning. “We will submit a memorandum to the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir that has to be forwarded to the honourable Prime Minister,” Karra said, adding that the memorandum reiterates the party’s demand for complete statehood.

Karra said that the march in Srinagar is part of a series of programmes planned by the Congress to intensify its outreach and advocacy for statehood.

JKPCC Chief added that similar programmes will be held in Jammu on July 20, followed by a move to Delhi on July 21, coinciding with the start of the Parliament session.

“We had already announced that we will step up our efforts once the Parliament session is convened,” Karra said. “The next phase will be in Delhi, where we will try to submit the memorandum to the Prime Minister as well.”

Karra said their party has given assurances that today’s march will be peaceful and will involve participation from senior leaders and workers. (KNO)

Srinagar: After weeks of scorching heat and a prolonged dry spell that had left Kashmir’s paddy fields parched and orchards wilting, the recent spell of rainfall has brought immense relief to the farmers across the Valley.

With water levels rising in rivers, canals and streams, the irrigation pump stations that had gone defunct due to low water availability have now started functioning again, thereby reviving hopes for a better crop yield this season.

As per KNO, the farmers in different parts of the Valley were seen rejoicing, as the rains came just in time to save standing crops that were under severe stress due to lack of water.

“We were really worried that the crop would get damaged completely. The paddy land had dried up and cracks had appeared in fields. But the recent rains have been no less than a blessing,” said Ghulam Nabi, a farmer from Awantipora. “Now, our land has absorbed water and we have resumed our irrigation routines. There’s new hope,” he added with a sigh of relief.

The heatwave and dry weather had also affected orchards in South and Central Kashmir, with many fruit growers complaining of early fruit drop and stressed leaves. However, orchardists say the rainfall has brought some balance.

“We were spending heavily on irrigating orchards through different means but were unable to irrigate whole orchards. The rain has come at a perfect time and it’s a big relief for us,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a fruit grower from Shopian. “Rainwater is far better for the trees than any other means of irrigation,” he added.

Agriculture experts say that while the rainfall may not completely reverse the damage caused by the dry spell, it will certainly help in stabilizing crop conditions and restoring soil moisture.

“The impact of the dry spell was visible in both paddy and horticulture sectors. Rain was essential at this stage. This spell has replenished water bodies and helped restore irrigation schedules. It has also enhanced the availability of groundwater to some extent,” said Dr. Talib Shah, an agriculture scientist.

According to the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, the water level in major streams and rivers like Jhelum and Lidder has increased, enabling irrigation pump stations to resume operations.

“Pump stations had either stopped or were operating at low capacity. Now, with improved water levels, they are functional again, and canals are being supplied adequately,” said an official from the department. “This will significantly help the farmers,” he added.

Experts, however, caution that a single rainfall spell is not a long-term solution. “While this rain has been beneficial, the larger issue of climate variability and decreasing water availability needs long-term planning and water conservation efforts,” Dr. Talib Ahmad said.

“We had lost hope,” said Fayaz Ahmad, a farmer from Budgam. “But Allah heard our prayers. This is what we were desperately waiting for.”

The Meteorological Department has predicted more light to moderate rainfall in the coming days, which may further improve the agricultural prospects for the region. (KNO)

Srinagar: After weeks of relentless heat and parched landscapes, the orchards and fields of Kashmir have finally received much-needed rainfall, bringing immense relief to thousands of apple growers and paddy farmers across the region.

Just a couple of weeks ago, Kashmir was grappling with soaring temperatures and dry spells that left the land cracked and the faces of farmers withered in worry. The absence of rain posed a serious threat to the region’s famed apple orchards and paddy fields, with growers concerned about stunted fruit size, reduced quality, and poor yields—especially for early and high-density apple varieties that are particularly sensitive to moisture stress.

“Every drop of rain felt like a blessing,” said Ishfaq Ahmad Malik, an apple farmer from the Shopian district, one of south Kashmir’s major apple-producing areas.

Speaking to KNO, Malik said the recent showers not only revived withering crops but also lifted the spirits of the farming community. “Nature has been kind to us,” he added.

The rainfall over the past few days has ended the prolonged drought, rejuvenating orchards and fields. Farmers like Rafiq Ahmad Khan from Zainapora said the persistent heatwave had caused sunburnt apples with reduced juice content, resulting in crop losses and diminished returns. “The timely rains have brought great relief to both apple and paddy farmers,” Khan said, recalling how paddy fields had developed deep cracks due to the lack of water.

The impact of the drought was widespread, with water levels in Kashmir’s major rivers and streams, including the Jhelum—often called the region’s lifeline—dropping to alarming lows. At several locations, the river level was reported to be only knee-deep. Shabir Ahmed, another local farmer, said, “The rain has refilled many drains and rivers, reviving our hope.”

Rain-fed farms, which lack irrigation infrastructure and depend entirely on natural rainfall, were among the worst affected during the drought. “The soil had become friable and we had almost given up hope,” Shabir said. The recent rains, he added, arrived just in time to save apple, paddy, and vegetable crops from potential damage.

Official data confirms a marked improvement in water levels across the region’s rivers and tributaries. As of July 17, the Jhelum was flowing at 9.50 feet at Sangam (flood mark: 21 feet), 1.55 metres at Pampore (flood mark: 4.5 metres), 9.57 feet at Munshi Bagh (flood mark: 18 feet), 5.33 feet at Asham (flood mark: 14 feet), and 1575.08 metres at Wular Lake (full level: 1578.00 metres). Tributaries have also seen a rise but remain below danger levels, with Visho Nallah at Khudwani at 5.36 metres (flood mark: 7.75 metres), Rambiara Nallah at Wachi at 0.40 metres (flood mark: 5.4 metres), Lidder Nallah at Batkot at 0.67 metres (flood mark: 1.5 metres), and Sindh Nallah at Dodarhama at 1.84 metres (flood mark: 3.65 metres).

Compared to previous reports—when water levels at Sangam, Munshi Bagh, and Asham were as low as 3.85 feet, 5.94 feet, and 3.84 feet respectively—the current situation marks a significant recovery. Officials have reiterated that there is no immediate risk of flooding, and water levels are being closely monitored, with the impact of rain in upper catchment areas expected to be seen after a short delay.

Weather experts say the rainfall has significantly eased water shortages. They said that the recent rains have raised the water level of the Jhelum river, which will go a long way in overcoming the water shortage and that the rivers and tributaries are in spate, providing sufficient water for irrigation needs.

The Meteorological Centre Srinagar has forecast more rainfall in the region in the coming days, particularly between July 21 and 25, offering further respite to the farming community. (KNO)