The crowded landscape of Gulmarg that soared with the picturesque of snow capped mountains wore a barren look through December 2023 and January 2024 as Kashmir faced rising temperatures and a severe dry spell owing to the alarming issue of climate change.

Located at a distance of 31 Km’s from Baramulla and 49 Km’s from Srinagar, situated in the Pir Panjal range in the Western Himalayas, Gulmarg is the heart of winter sports in India and one of the major tourist destinations in winter’s as the beauty of it’s snow covered scapes and white peaks of the great Himalayas leave the visitors mesmerized.
But in the winter of 2023- 2024, the region experienced something that had not happened in decades. The snowy scapes of the great Gulmarg had turned barren and brown as the winter haven faced the drastic effects of climate change making it face high temperatures and a severe dry spell.
According to Digest of statistics, Jammu and Kashmir, 2019-2020, report, the tourism sector contributes 7% to the valley’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Government studies suggest that around 17 million tourists visited the valley by September 2023. But by the end of 2023 it soon became evident that these winter’s shall unravel the extreme effects of unusual weather patterns. As forecasts suggested a dry winter leaving many tourists disappointed upon witnessing the snow less scapes of Kashmir, numerous tourists cancelled or postponed their visits.
“Almost 30 percent of bookings have been cancelled and it is increasing day by day” said Aijaz Bhat, a hotel manager in Gulmarg, in a study published by Al-Jazeera in Jan 2024.
In the floating houseboats across Dal and Nigeen, 70 per cent of the houseboats were empty as due to the lack of snow many toursists decided to cancel or postpone their visits.
“Majority of the houseboat booking have either been cancelled or put on hold by international and domestic guests,” said Manzoor Pakhtoo, President of the House Boat Owners Association (HBOA), Kashmir.

Jhelum Sinks Below it’s Lowest While the Orchards Crave the Fall of Snow

As per the official data from the India Meterological Department, rainfall of only 12.6 mm was recorded in December 2023, much below the average of 59.6 mm, highlighting a deficit of around 80 percent in rainfall with a Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) value of -1.73.
On January 13, 2024, Srinagar recorded a temperature of 15 ̊C, highest in the month of January in the past decade. Similarly, Jammu city recorded a temperature of 2.5 ̊ C on January 14th 2024, the lowest in the past seven years.
The water bodies in the Kashmir Valley also underwent a drastic decrease in their water levels with river Jhelum, hitting an all time low, flowing at 0.75 feet at Sangam, Anantnag and 0.86 feet at Asham, Bandipora, according to the Irrigation Department of Kashmir Valley.
Valley’s fruit growers and farmers feared a low produce as climate changes causing a snow less winter threatened to foil the process of fruit growth and crop production, consequently posing a significant risk to Agricultural Industry of Kashmir.
Department of Horticulture, Jammu and Kashmir says, Apple, Walnut and Almond farming provides employment to about 2 million people in the region.
Ejaz Ayoub, an economist from Srinagar told BBC that exports from the valley’s orchards amount to over 2.2 million tones annually, generating a revenue of 120 Billion Rupees.
But the unprecedented winter conditions and unusual weather patterns are deeply concerning as they pose numerous challenges to the valley’s orchards as the apple orchards and their production are much dependent on the chilling winter season as snowfall nourishes apples and other horticulture crops, without which the production and quality of the harvest would dwindle.

Power Generation Amid Low Precipitation

“The ongoing dry spell might not have an immediate impact but it will definitely affect the generation in coming summer and winter,” said H Rajesh Prasad, Principal Secretary, Power Development Department, emphasizing the impact of low precipitation on power generation in the valley.
A junior engineer from Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) also said that due to the extreme weather changes and absence of snowfall, there might be an electricity crises throughout the year.
Reports suggest that power generation in Kashmir has reduced by 85 percent due to low discharge in rivers as the water level in water bodies saw a major decrease as the annual rainfall fell to a deficit of around 80 percent accompanied by a severe dry spell subsequently posing many hurdles for power generation in the valley.

Rising Temperatures and Shrinking Glaciers

As the temperature around the globe rises due to climate changes, Kashmir also comes into the clasp of Global warming as the glaciers housed by the heaven on earth are melting fast.
Kolahoi, the largest glacier of Kashmir’s Jhelum region is shrinking rapidly due to the soaring temperatures caused by Climate changes. The snowfall to compensate the build up of Glaciers in the valley has evidently declined and thus insufficient to make up for further melting in the summer season.
A study conducted by Zahid Majeed and Muneer Mukhtar of the Geological Survey of India along with Manish Mehta of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, highlighted that the Kolahoi glacier, which is the main source of the Jhelum River has lost 23% of its area since 1962. As the temperatures continue to spike, Thajiwas, Hoksar, Nehnar and glaciers around the Harmukh are melting fast.
The climate of J&K is also influenced by the El Nino-Southern Oscillations (ENSO) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) along with increasing pollution, the precipitation of Kashmir has declined drastically suggesting water scarcity in upcoming times.
One other prevailing cause for low rainfall across the valley is the declined frequency of western disturbances. Wind from the west absorbs moisture over the Mediterranean and then down pours the water upon the Himalayas.
A study also found out that the declining frequency of western disturbances would result in a 15% reduction in mean winter rainfall over northern India.
These are clear cut indications of drastic impacts of Global Warming and Climate change on the valley.
In order to maintain the diversity and beauty of hamin asto ( heaven on earth), we need to take certain factors into consideration: By Enhancing efforts to conserve local flora and fauna through protected areas and reforestation projects will help in maintaining biodiversity and stabilizes the local ecosystem. By Upgrading infrastructure to withstand extreme weather conditions, such as heavy snowfall and rainfall, to prevent damage and ensure safety we need to Educate and involve local communities in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, fostering a collaborative approach to environmental conservation. To promote the use of renewable energy sources to reduce carbon emissions, such as solar and wind power, especially in tourism-related facilities.
These measures will help mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and preserve the natural beauty and ecological balance of Gulmarg, Jhelum and other tourist attractions in Kashmir. All the precautions are a responsibility of both citizens and tourists who come to enjoy the serene and mesmerizing views of the valley.

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