India, Dec. 11 -- Jammu and Kashmir is in the grip of an unusually long dry spell, with the region recording an 86 percent rainfall deficit between November 1 and December 9, according to data from the Meteorological Department.

According to a report from Srinagar, the Union Territory has received just 6.1 mm of rainfall during this period, against the normal average of 43.1 mm, marking one of the driest starts to winter in recent years. The deficit stands at 82.6 percent in the Jammu division and 82.1 percent in the Kashmir division.

District-level data shows widespread shortfalls. In Kashmir, Kulgam and Shopian recorded the highest deficits at 90.5 percent, followed by Ganderbal (88%), Baramulla (87.7%), Bandipora (81.5%), Budgam (77....