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Kashmir’s snow deficit

For many, the winter season isn’t just about recreation—it’s their livelihood. Without snow, their earnings disappear
11:50 PM Feb 02, 2025 IST | GK EDITORIAL DESK
kashmir’s snow deficit
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In Kashmir, winter has been associated with recurring snowfall, drawing tourists to the Valley, filling rivers with fresh meltwater, and setting the stage for the agricultural cycle. But this year, something feels unsettlingly different. January has passed with little snow, and the consequences are already being felt.

In Gulmarg, where winter sports fuel the local economy, the famed ski slopes are nearly bare, forcing the government to postpone winter games. This has dealt blow to hoteliers, ski instructors, and small businesses that count on tourist footfall. For many, the winter season isn’t just about recreation—it’s their livelihood. Without snow, their earnings disappear.

Farmers, too, are watching the skies with growing anxiety. Heavy snow during winter helps in the glacier formation, which in turn charges up the Valley’s water bodies through summer. So increasing the frequency of dry winters signals trouble. Snowfall is more than just a picturesque backdrop in Kashmir; it is the valley’s water bank. When it melts in spring, it replenishes streams, irrigates orchards, and sustains crops. A weak winter means a dry summer, threatening apple growers and paddy farmers alike. Less snow today could mean parched fields and lower yields in the months to come. The shift in weather pattern is also impacting Kashmir’s horticulture, particularly the apple crop, a mainstay of the region’s economy.

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There has been some relief—recent western disturbances have brought light snowfall to higher altitudes, and the plains have seen rain. But one or two spells of precipitation cannot undo an entire season’s shortfall. The bigger concern is whether this snow deficit is a one-time anomaly or a sign of deeper climate shifts. Kashmir’s weather patterns have been changing. Glaciers are receding, summers are hotter, and winters are becoming erratic.

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We can no longer afford to see this as just an unusual season. This is a warning. The valley’s dependence on predictable snowfall for both tourism and agriculture demands urgent action. For now, Kashmir waits. February might bring the much-needed snowfall, but hope isn’t a strategy. Government needs to prepare for a future without snowfall in winter.

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