Anantnag, Feb 21: The famous Achabal spring in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district has come back to life after drying up due to the prolonged dry spell in the region.
Pertinent to mention here, many parts of Kashmir valley received rainfall on Tuesday, February 20, with snowfall in the upper reaches, bringing relief to residents suffering from a water shortage caused by a precipitation deficit.
Zeeshan Ahmad, a local resident, said that they are thankful to Almighty Allah as the spring’s discharge has quenched the drinking water issues of over a dozen villages.
“The spring has rejuvenated to about 30 percent of its original capacity. We faced severe drinking water shortages when it dried up, but now, with its revival, we finally have relief,” he said.
Sonallah Wani, another resident of Achabal, said that the revival of the spring has brought joy to the locals as it caters to many villages. “This spring is essential not only for drinking water but also for agriculture downstream. Water is a gift from God, and people must introspect and work towards preserving water bodieEngineesaid.
Gowhar Hussain Ganie, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) at the Jal Shakti Sub Division in Anantnag, confirmed that the water supply schemes dependent on the spring have been restored, with nearly 90 percent of them now functional.
“The spring’s rejuvenation has provided relief to residents, making it easier for them to access water at home. Though the department was supplying water through tankers, the restoration of the spring has significantly eased the situation,” he added.
Earlier, a video of an octogenarian woman, Saja Begum,praying emotionally to the Almighty near the spring went viral on social media. Besides, people offered special prayers for the dry spell to end and for the rejuvenation of Achabal spring.
