Environment Archives | Page 7 of 45

Kashmir Heat Wave Worsens, Leaves Locals and Tourists Struggling

September 16, 2023 Editor

Kashmir is reeling from a heat wave after the valley earlier this week witnessed the second-hottest September day in recorded history, causing hardships to locals and tourists alike. On Tuesday, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 34.2 degrees Celsius, six degrees above normal, the met office (Srinagar) deputy director Mukhtar Ahmed told PTI. He said it was the second-highest maximum temperature ever recorded in September since 1891, when the weather observatory was established. Ahmed said it broke a 53-year-old record of 33.8 degrees Celsius, recorded on September 1, 1970. The…

Urbanization: A major threat to remaining water bodies in Kashmir’s capital

September 13, 2023 Editor

Study shows that 50% of small and big waterbodies have vanished over past century By: Hilal Mir Mughli Sidiq Mir, 88, from the Zaldagar area of old Srinagar, nostalgically recalls the days when her family would board a boat at Brari Nambal, a wetland about a mile from her home, for a ride to the city’s iconic Dal Lake. The boat would row through a network of interconnected waterways before reaching its destination. Remnants of the aquatic route Mughli reminisces about still exist, but the boat rides stopped decades ago.…

Kashmir swelters in record-breaking heat wave, experts blame climate change

September 13, 2023 Editor

Erratic weather conditions outcome of climate change, says expert; prolonged dry spell led to prevalent weather conditions, says MeT; Sgr among 3 Kashmir parts surpass decades old day temperature; some relief expected after Sep 15 Owing to the climate change in Kashmir, the prolonged dry spell in Jammu and Kashmir parts has presently resulted in severe heat wave conditions, breaking the decades old records in the month of September here in the Union Territory. With no active Monsoon activity and also the absence of the Western Disturbance, there has been…

Kashmir braces for hot, dry weather this week, Srinagar records hottest September day in 18 years

September 11, 2023 Editor

Kashmir is experiencing a heat wave, which is expected to continue for the next one week, meteorological department (MeT) officials said on Sunday. The weather was mainly clear in Kashmir with relatively hot and humid conditions, while the skies were partly cloudy in the Jammu region. MeT’s local centre director Sonam Lotus said both Kashmir and Jammu regions are experiencing above normal temperatures, adding, “The same weather will likely continue for a week. A heatwave prevailed in plains of Kashmir, Qazigund and Kokernag,” The day temperatures in Kashmir were 3-6…

The Lingering Threat of 2014-Like Floods in Kashmir: Environmental Dangers Looming Large

September 7, 2023 Editor

Rapid urbanization in Kashmir, encroachment of water bodies and adjoining river banks and disappearance of wetlands have disrupted the natural drainage patterns By: Khurshid Ahmed Ganai The recent report of the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) has called for taking more corrective measures to prevent 2014 flood-like disasters. The report has mentioned ‘haphazard developmental activities and infrastructure projects being implemented without sufficient consideration of environmental safety and sustainability.’ Then it has picked ‘mining operations on the flood plains of river Jhelum, construction of railway lines and poorly planned urbanization’…

Srinagar: A city in need of sustainable development

September 6, 2023 Editor

Ensure implementation of Climate Resilient City Action Plan for the summer capital By: Arif Shafi Wani Blessed with lakes, wetlands, gardens and mountains, Srinagar is one the major tourist attractions in Jammu and Kashmir. However, haphazard development, especially in past over three decades, has disturbed eco-system of the bustling city. Spread over 246 sq.km, Srinagar is the largest populated city in J&K with a population of 1.50 million people. The city is the main hub of tourism and trade activities. For centuries, Srinagar has been the abode of all rulers…

The Time To Act Is Now: Protect Mountains States from Climate Crisis

September 5, 2023September 5, 2023 Editor

Addressing the Climate Crisis in India’s Mountain States: The Urgent Need for New Infrastructure Policies By: Javid Amin The mountain states of India find themselves at the forefront of a growing climate crisis. Recent catastrophic events in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand serve as stark reminders of the pressing need for immediate action to safeguard these vulnerable regions. The impact of the climate crisis is being felt through increasingly severe weather events, including floods, landslides, and droughts. These events result in extensive damage to critical infrastructure, displacement of communities, and a…

Kashmir Grapples with Prolonged Dry Spell: 80% of Region Experiencing Moderate to Severe Dryness

September 3, 2023September 3, 2023 Editor

By Faizan Arif Over the past four weeks, Jammu and Kashmir has been grappling with a significant shortfall in rainfall. According to India Meteorological Department data related to the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), approximately 80 percent of the area in Kashmir region (8 out of 10 districts), has been impacted by moderate to extreme dryness between August 3rd and August 30th. The SPI, relying on precipitation data, is a widely utilized index for characterizing meteorological drought on a range of timescales. This index is negative for drought and positive for…

Meteorological Forecast: September expected to be the Driest Month of the Year for Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh

September 1, 2023 Editor

This year, May and June saw early and unprecedented heat conditions across J&K. May, June, and July months were the warmest. September would be one of the driest months of the year for Jammu and Kashmir as well as Ladakh as there is no prediction of any major precipitation for the first two weeks of the month. “Climatologically also, September is the driest month of the year for J&K and Ladakh. No significant weather expected for next 2 weeks,” MeT Director Sonam Lotus wrote on X (Formerly twitter) on Thursday.…

Kashmir’s Vulnerability to Earthquakes: Is the Region Prepared for the Next Big One?

August 31, 2023 Editor

Experts warn that the earthquake-prone valley must step up its seismic-resilience game. By: Sajid Raina & Attaul Munim Zahid The earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria last year had a profound impact on Kashmir, heightening concerns about the potential devastation caused by earthquakes. This anxiety, although transient in the immediate aftermath of such events, frequently affects the people of Kashmir. From January to June of this year, Jammu and Kashmir experienced 32 seismic events, with magnitudes ranging from 3.2 to 5.4 on the Richter scale. These tremors serve as a stark reminder…