Pulwama, Feb 2025 – In a grim reflection of Kashmir’s worsening water crisis, the historic Bulbul Nag spring in Pulwama’s Newa area has completely dried up, leaving thousands of residents desperate for drinking water. Once a lifeline for 39 villages, supplying nearly six lakh gallons of water daily, the spring now yields a mere one lakh gallons—woefully insufficient for the 20,000 to 30,000 people who depend on it.
“The water reduced last year too, but rainfall revived it. This time, there is no rain, and even the bedrocks are visible,” a local resident said, echoing the fears of many.
This crisis is not isolated. Just days ago, Achabal, one of Kashmir’s largest springs, also ran dry. The Meteorological Department reports that January 2025 recorded an 87% precipitation deficit, accelerating the depletion of groundwater and drying up natural springs across the Valley.
For over 45 years, Bulbul Nag’s waters were channeled through government-installed pumping stations to sustain nearby villages. Now, its disappearance signals an escalating environmental emergency.
Elders recall a time when Kashmir’s springs flowed ceaselessly, nourishing rivers, fields, and communities. “Kashmir was known for its springs, for its abundant water,” an elderly resident lamented. “Now, we are watching them vanish before our eyes.”
With no immediate solution in sight, the people of Newa and its adjoining villages face a harsh reality: if the dry spell continues, their land—once thriving with water—may be left parched beyond repair.
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