#ClimateChange Archives

Amarnath Cave Shrine In Kashmir Himalayas Gets Motorable Road, But At What Cost?

November 7, 2023 Editor

A Road to Development or Ecological Peril? By: Javid Amin The Amarnath Cave Shrine, a place of divine serenity ensconced in the lofty Himalayas of Kashmir, is more than just a pilgrimage site. It’s a spiritual beacon that draws millions of Hindu devotees from across the world. At an altitude of over 3,800 meters, this shrine is not just a religious destination; it’s an arduous journey into the heart of nature’s splendor. However, the recent developments in the Kashmir Valley, driven by the Indian government’s initiatives, have brought about significant…

Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram implement GRAP Stage 2 to combat air pollution

October 21, 2023 Editor

Under this, the air quality panel has asked the authorities in the NCR region to increase parking fees to discourage private transport. The air quality in Delhi is likely to dip and enter the “very poor” category on October 23 and 24 due to unfavourable meteorological and climatic conditions, the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology have said, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to invoke Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan measures. These anti-pollution measures will be implemented in the entire…

Kashmir experiences first major rains of autumn season

October 10, 2023 Editor

The weather turned cloudy in the afternoon with mild to heavy rains in the evening, particularly in central and north Kashmir areas The first major rains of the autumn season lashed parts of Kashmir on Monday as a Western Disturbance hit the region, bringing down the temperatures. The weather turned cloudy in the afternoon with mild to heavy rains in the evening, particularly in central and north Kashmir areas. The region witnessed dusty winds after weeks of mostly dry weather. “The rainfall has started across Kashmir and a few parts…

Load Shedding ON: Kashmir Power Supply Disrupted as Dry Spell Reduces Water Levels in Reservoirs

September 29, 2023 Editor

Prolonged Dry Spell in Kashmir Leads to Electricity Woes The picturesque region of Kashmir is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty, with its abundant water bodies, lush green valleys, and towering Himalayan peaks. However, the past few months have brought about an unexpected challenge for the people of Kashmir – a prolonged dry spell that has significantly reduced the water levels in the region’s vital water bodies. This has led to a domino effect, impacting the generation of electricity and, consequently, causing power curtailment that’s affecting the daily lives of…

Kashmir Faces Power Shortage as Dry Spell Reduces Hydropower Output

September 29, 2023 Editor

With prolonged dry spell leading to the reduction in water level in most of the water bodies across the Valley, the Kashmir-based power houses are generating less electricity, prompting the government to go ahead with power curtailment, causing immense hardships to the people. Pertinently, August and September—2023 has recorded deficient rainfall while the hot and humid weather conditions continued for weeks together, breaking the decades old record in the month of September. The hot and humid weather conditions resulted in reduction in water level in the famous water bodies including…

Climate change to bring more extreme weather events to Kashmir, including September heatwaves

September 17, 2023 Editor

By: Wahid Bhat Kashmir is currently experiencing an unprecedented heatwave in September, shattering long-standing temperature records due to an ongoing dry spell that has persisted for the last 45 days. Srinagar, on September 12th, recorded a scorching maximum temperature of 34.2°C, a staggering 6.0°C above the normal seasonal average. This marks the second-highest maximum temperature ever recorded in September since the establishment of the weather observatory in 1891. The previous record of 33.8°C dated back to September 1, 1970, with an all-time high of 35.0°C set on September 18, 1934.…

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…

Kashmir Water Crisis deepens amidst persistent Dry Spell and Scorching Heat

September 16, 2023 Editor

Despite some light rainfall in parts of Kashmir on Friday, the heat wave continued at isolated places, according to the Meteorological Department (MeT). Director MeT Sonum Lotus said that the maximum temperature remained normal in Jammu region, but isolated places in Kashmir continued to experience heat wave conditions. Lotus added that there is a possibility of light rainfall at isolated to scattered places of Jammu and Kashmir during the next two days. However, he said that there is no forecast of any major respite from the prevalent weather conditions for…

Persistent Heatwave in Kashmir: Receding River Levels Impact Apple Quality

September 13, 2023 Editor

Dry weather and above normal temperatures in Kashmir over seven weeks have adversely affected horticulture production, particularly apple, but have proved good for paddy crop, experts said. The weather has also led to a fall in the water level of Jhelum and other water bodies. Kashmir is India’s largest apple grower, producing around 20 lakh metric tonnes of apples every year. They added that if the rain scarcity continues, it will have a negative impact on Saffron and potato production in the region. The Valley is experiencing high temperatures with…

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.…