Srinagar, July 4 -- Abdul Gani Bhat, a 56-year-old paddy farmer, stands at the edge of his field with a soiled cap in one hand and a hopeful glance cast at the sky. His eyes, dry and rimmed red, hope for a spell of rain to save his field, which is almost dried due to the lack of irrigation water.

Last month, Bhat transplanted paddy when the water was abundant enough that he had to drain out extra water for days together from the field.

"Who would expect that we would face such a situation. Last month, we transplanted paddy, the water supply was enough, and our fields were flooded. Right now, the situation is different, and we are craving for water to irrigate our fields and orchards," he said.

A prolonged spell of dry and unusually hot...