Freezing Kashmir!

Freezing cold wave has gripped Kashmir—throwing normal life out of gear. Most of the water bodies are frozen and drinking water supply has been severely affected across the valley.
For the last few years, Kashmir has been experiencing extreme erratic climate, dry winters, and hot summers.

Srinagar witnessed the coldest December night on 20th at minus 8.5 degrees Celsius. This was the third-coldest December night in Srinagar since 1891. Srinagar’s all-time low for December is minus 12.8 degrees Celsius, recorded on December 13, 1934.
Alarm bells must start ringing as the rain deficit in J&K has reached 75 percent from October 1, to December 19.

The region just received 21 mm of rain against normal precipitation of 97.1mm in the last three months. During the period, the highest rainfall deficit has been recorded in Shopian district in south Kashmir with 96 percent. It is followed by Poonch district of Jammu with 95 percent deficit. Kulgam of south Kashmir and Budgam district of central Kashmir witnessed rainfall deficits of 94 percent and 90 percent while Srinagar has recorded a deficit rainfall of 87 percent respectively.
The bone-chilling cold has caused severe drinking water crises in addition to affecting hydro power plants in Kashmir. Indications of climatic change are quite prominent. Dry spell in December and January is impacting glaciers as well as snow cover as a result of less snowfall during the peak winter season. According to experts, dry spell in the peak winter period is an indication of climate change coupled with ENSO and NAO over Kashmir.

Less precipitation in winters coupled with summer heat waves are propelling melting of glaciers. This summer Kashmir grappled with unprecedented high temperatures. The heat wave is so intense that it has almost dried up river Jhelum and led to low water levels in other water bodies.
Besides drinking water scarcity, agriculture and horticulture areas were severely hit owing to the prolonged dry spell. This summer, Srinagar witnessed a daytime average of 36.degree Celsius. The highest daytime temperature in July witnessed in the last 25 years is the same this year. According to data, the highest recorded temperature in Srinagar has been 38.3 degree Celsius on July 10, 1946. On July 28, 2024, Srinagar witnessed 36.2 degree Celsius with a feel of 40 degrees.
In January this year, Kashmir witnessed a drought-like condition.

There was no trace of snowfall or even rain during the harshest winter period. In January this year, Srinagar witnessed warmer temperatures than Delhi and Chandigarh. On January 13, Srinagar recorded the maximum temperature at 15 degrees Celsius. This stands as the sixth-highest recorded temperature for Srinagar in over a century. Srinagar recorded 15.1 degrees Celsius on January 23, 2003, 15.5 degrees Celsius on January 9, 1976, 15.7 degrees Celsius on January 31, 2001, 15.8 degrees Celsius on January 25, 2010, and 17.2 degrees Celsius on January 23, 1902 respectively.

Environmentalists are worried about the erratic temperatures in Kashmir. This fluctuation in temperature is sure to have serious effects on our fragile eco-system. In the long run, erratic climate will hit food, energy, and water security in the valley. Experts mince no words to warn that snowfall deficit and higher temperatures this winter could increase the incidence of cryosphere-related hazards like permafrost degradation triggered slope failures, early snow melt and glacier degeneration.

Rising temperatures have led to fast retreating of most of the glaciers in Kashmir Himalaya. Kolahoi, the largest glacier of Kashmir's Jhelum Basin, is retreating rapidly due to a spurt in temperature triggered by global warming and extreme pollution. Thajiwas, Hoksar, Nehnar, Shishram, and glaciers around Harmukh are melting fast. Fast retreating of glaciers because of global warming and pollution have created glacial lakes, which can be disastrous, in various mountain ranges of J&K besides Ladakh.

The matter of concern is that J&K already ranks third among the Himalayan areas which are vulnerable to climate change. In absence of regulation, forests, water bodies, Karewas and wetlands have been facing massive vandalisation by unscrupulous persons. According to a study 'Climate Vulnerability Assessment for the Indian Himalayan Region Using a Common Framework'.J&K has been confronted with environmental challenges due to global warming, unplanned urbanisation, deforestation and vandalisation of water bodies,

Studies have projected that it will experience more frequent and longer droughts from the mid to end of the 21st century, thereby making it a new norm between 2051-2099 due to climate change. There is a need to study climate change vulnerabilities to adapt strategies and ecosystem management to mitigate climate change. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must be done to determine carrying capacity of eco-fragile tourist destinations in Kashmir for regulation of visitors. It is high time to safeguard our natural resources and ensure sustainable development. Framing of robust mitigation policy is must to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

Author is Executive Editor, Greater Kashmir