Kashmir has been caught in the throes of a protracted dry spell with the region experiencing an unprecedented precipitation deficit.
The long-drawn-out dry spell, coupled with rising temperature, has taken a toll on winter sports and water bodies, spurring authorities to postpone the winter games event.
On February 17, the second edition of Khelo India Winter Games 2025, which were scheduled to take place on February 22 in Gulmarg, were postponed due to inadequate snowfall. The famous ski resort was set to host a series of alpine skiing, Nordic skiing and snowboarding events from February 22 to February 25.
On Sunday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told reporters that he was not in a position to announce the new dates for the event. He, however, said that another spell of snowfall had been predicted. “After this snowfall, experts from Skii federation will inspect the slops and if they feel there is enough snow to hold the games, we will immediately announce the dates,” he said.
Impact on business
The insufficient snowfall has led to the cancellations of many skiing packages, disappointing adventure enthusiasts and local businessmen.
Tariq Ahmad Khan, President, Tourist Guide Association, Gulmarg, said that around 30 to 40 per cent skiing packages have been cancelled.
He said that snowfall deficit has severely impacted the business of sledge operators, ski instructors and transporters.
“We have seen nearly 60 percent drop in their business,” he said.
A snowboard instructor said some skiing slopes are almost barren due to inadequate snowfall.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier forecasted snow and rains from February 19 and 20, raising hopes of snow enthusiasts. However, tourist hotspots like Gulmarg and Pahalgam received light snowfall.
Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of IMD J&K, told businessline that Gulmarg received four inches of snow, while Pahalgam recorded two to three inches.
However, he noted that the Valley might experience significant snowfall between February 25 and February 28.
Water crisis
Famous springs like Achabal, Dilnag and Aripal in South Kashmir have almost dried up due to declining water levels at their sources. But a recent brief wet spell helped them spring back to life.
“Following a recent rainfall, we saw water gushing out in the spring again,” said Abdul Rehman, a resident of Anantnag. The dwindling water flow has also caused deep distress to thousands of residents, who rely on these water bodies for drinking water.
The crisis also spurred Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to call for a more proactive effort and collective measures for water management and conservation.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (Jammu and Kashmir), the Valley experienced a minus 76.87 percent decline in precipitation between January 1 to February 6.
The region also recorded 6 to 8 degrees C above normal, melting the snow and further depleting the water sources, worsening the impact of the prolonged dry spell.
Professor Mohammad Sultan Bhat, a renowned geographer at the University of Kashmir, says that rising temperatures are causing winter precipitation to fall as rain rather than snow, leading to reduced snowpack accumulation.
According to Bhat, observational meteorological data from 1984 to 2024 indicate worrisome trends in temperature and river discharges across the Kashmir Valley.
“The mean annual temperature has risen by 0.024°C per year, with winter and spring temperatures increasing at even higher rates of 0.046°C and 0.043°C per year, respectively”, said Bhat.