Srinagar- As Kashmir valley grapples with unprecedented dry weather, the Houseboat owners along the river Jhelum find themselves grappling with a mounting concern as water levels continue to recede.
The idyllic charm of the houseboats is now tinged with apprehension as the dry climate prevailing in the region has exacerbated the situation. Fearful for the safety of their homes afloat, these houseboat owners are maintaining a vigilant watch, enduring sleepless nights in the face of the persistent decline in the water levels of the River Jhelum.
Pertinently, the water level in the Jhelum River has hit the lowest due to a prolonged dry spell in Kashmir, officials on Sunday said.
“River Jhelum was flowing at -0.75 feet at Sangam (Anantnag district) and -0.86 feet at Asham (Bandipora district) on Sunday morning. This is the lowest water level in the river,” the officials said.
It had dropped to this level at Sangam in November 2017, they said.
Kashmir has been going through a prolonged dry spell this winter with very little snowfall and a 79 per cent deficit in rainfall was recorded for December while there has been no precipitation in most parts of the valley in the first fortnight of January.
Speaking to Kashmir Observer, spokesperson Houseboat owner’s River Jhelum, Ghulam Qadir Gasi, 57, said that he is witnessing such a situation for the first time in his life.
According to Gasi, much like a fish relies on water for its survival, a houseboat is similarly dependent on water to stay buoyant. When faced with diminishing water levels, maintaining the buoyancy of the houseboat becomes a challenging task.
“I have never seen water level as low as today, I have only seen it when dredging of Jhelum was done” Gasi said.
“We are consistently keeping a watchful eye on the houseboats around the clock, employing a long wooden stick for inspection. Our assessment involves checking whether the bottom of the houseboat is afloat or in contact with the land. If we discover that the bottom is touching the land, we proceed to guide the houseboat towards the center of the River Jhelum.”
Gasi further explained that, despite the presence of houseboats in both the Jhelum River and Dal Lake, the circumstances are distinct. He said that the Houseboats situated in the Jhelum River face a heightened risk of submersion.
“When we compare Dal Lake and the Jhelum River, these are two different scenarios. The submerged land surface beneath the water level in Dal Lake is flat, whereas, in the case of the Jhelum River, the land surface beneath the houseboats is slanting,” Gasi said.
“In the Jhelum River, the land surface slopes upwards towards the bund, rendering the houseboats vulnerable in the event of low water. During a decrease in water level, the houseboat tilts towards the river, allowing water to seep in from all sides, posing a risk of submersion,” he added.
“This mirrors the dynamics observed during flooding. In Dal Lake, if the water level recedes, the houseboat remains balanced and rests directly on the underlying land, facilitating a smooth landing. However, in the Jhelum River, the scenario is entirely different.”
Other houseboat owners have also voiced similar concerns. Noor Mohammad, in his late fifties said that he is also witnessing such a receding water level for the first time in his lifetime.
“I have my houseboat stationed near a silk factory and it is a commercial one. I am keeping a close vigil myself and it is scary. The houseboat is particularly made for water and with every inch of water receding, the houseboats are at a higher risk of drowning,” Mohammad said
“If during night the water level further recedes, the houseboat can overturn and in case of imbalance, the water seems to seep into the houseboats from all sides and it loses all the control and eventually it sinks into the water,” he added.
Mohammad Anees, another commercial Houseboat owner, said his family lost their floating abode due to the heavy winds in summers and he did not wish the same fate for his commercial houseboat.
“The dry weather is not only risking the survival of Houseboats but it is also taking a toll on the livelihood of Houseboat owners. It has been several months we are putting up in a rented accommodation as we lost our residential houseboat to severe winds,” Anees said.
“Now we have one commercial houseboat left, we don’t want to lose it to ever receding water levels.”
Pertinently, there are a total of 86 houseboats situated along the Jhelum River, extending from the old zero bridge to the Foot Bridge. Several decades ago, the river boasted approximately 250 houseboats. However, over time, this number has dwindled and currently, there are around 86 houseboats remaining.
Faizan Arif, an independent weatherman from Kashmir said throughout the year, the water from glaciers gets added up in river Jhelum throughout the year. However, with the decrease in rainfall, the water level has receded and the water flow from glaciers decreases from the glaciers due to the subzero temperature.
“With the decrease in rainfall and with a huge deficit, the water level is decreasing. The flow from other streams to Jhelum is from the previous fall. But in absence of a major snowfall, the water levels have decreased and it will keep decreasing until there is a major spell.” Arif told Kashmir Observer.
“There aren’t many reservoirs in Kashmir and this will cause water shortage as well. It will cause harm to our agriculture sector as well as horticulture.”
Faizan cautioned that without significant rainfall in February and March, those with fish farms relying on springs may face continued challenges in the future.
“If the uncertainty of the future remains; an increase in precipitation during these months could potentially help us overcome the deficit.”
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