With a 79% rainfall deficit and unseasonably high temperatures, Kashmir is witnessing severe forest fires and dried-up springs. The crisis raises urgent concerns about climate change and environmental sustainability
.BY PC Bureau
Around 300 athletes were set to compete in four snow sports—ski mountaineering, alpine skiing, snowboarding, and Nordic skiing—from February 22 to 25. However, organizers decided to delay the event as key ski slopes lack sufficient snowfall.
“We have decided to postpone the event as key ski slopes lack sufficient snow,” said Rauf Tramboo, president of the Winter Games Association of Jammu and Kashmir. Normally, the slopes receive seven to eight feet (about 2 meters) of snowfall, but this year’s conditions have been unusually dry.
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The Kashmir Sports Council announced that a new assessment will be conducted once snow conditions improve, after which a revised schedule will be announced.
This is not the first time Kashmir has faced such conditions. Last January, a similar lack of snowfall led to a significant drop in visitors at ski resorts and hotels across the region. The Himalayan territory, claimed in full by both India and Pakistan but governed in parts by each, is currently experiencing a 79% rainfall deficit.
The 5th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games, initially set for February 22-25, 2025, has been postponed due to insufficient snowfall. A new assessment will be conducted once snow conditions improve, and the revised update will be announced accordingly: J&K Sports Council. pic.twitter.com/LsLN5C8Jeu
— Saahil Suhail (@SaahilSuhail) February 17, 2025
Experts warn that the unusually hot and dry weather could have severe consequences beyond winter sports. The region’s horticulture sector, the backbone of its economy, is at risk, with crops prematurely emerging from dormancy due to abnormally high temperatures.
“In February, we recorded temperatures 12 degrees Celsius (53.6°F) above normal. This has caused crops that should remain dormant until late February to become active in winter itself,” said agrometeorologist Sameera Qayoom, calling the trend “worrying.” Kashmir produces 2.5 million metric tons of fruit annually, with apples being the dominant crop.
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The dry spell has also taken a toll on Kashmir’s water bodies, with dozens of springs drying up, including one in the 17th-century Mughal Garden in Achabal town, about 70 km (40 miles) south of Srinagar.
Forest Fires Break Out Amid Drought Fears
Meanwhile, amid fears of drought, massive forest fires have broken across Kashmir, prompting urgent firefighting efforts by disaster management teams, police, and local volunteers. Experts attribute the rising frequency of such fires to a combination of climate change and human negligence.
The fires, which began on Saturday night in the upper forests of Tral, spread rapidly due to dry vegetation. A major blaze was also reported in the Pinglish area of Tral, extending into nearby forested regions.
In South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, a forest fire broke out in the Dadoo Marhama area, adding to the growing crisis. Officials are working to contain the flames before they spread further.
In North Kashmir’s Bandipora district, a massive fire erupted in Kunan village on Sunday evening, engulfing vast stretches of forest land. “Thick plumes of smoke were visible from a distance,” locals reported as emergency teams rushed to the scene.
As Kashmir grapples with extreme weather conditions, experts warn that these events signal deeper climate-related challenges for the region in the years to come.
