#EnvironmentalCrisis Archives

Relief Drenched in Chaos: Torrential Rains and Hailstorm Lash Kashmir After Scorching Heatwave

July 8, 2025 Editor

From Record Temperatures to Flooded Streets, Climate Whiplash Hits the Valley Hard By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 08 July 2023 From Fire to Flood In a stunning display of nature’s volatility, the Kashmir Valley went from being gripped by a historic heatwave to being battered by torrential rains, hailstorms, and violent winds—all within the span of 48 hours. The change brought temporary relief to residents who had endured suffocating temperatures for weeks. But it came with a punishing price: flash floods, uprooted trees, waterlogged homes, disrupted traffic, power outages,…

Kashmir’s Lifeline River Jhelum Runs Dry: Lowest Levels in Five Years Herald a Regional Crisis

July 3, 2025July 3, 2025 Editor

Kashmir’s Jhelum Hits 5-Year Low: A Climate, Environmental & Humanitarian Emergency By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 03 July 2025 When the River That Fed Millions Feels Empty The Jhelum River, the vital water artery that has sustained communities, farms, and ecosystems in Kashmir for centuries, is today sounding an alarm. On June 30, the river’s gauge dropped to just 0.57 feet, marking its lowest level in five years—a chilling sign that climate change is no longer on the horizon; it is here. This article delves deep into the factors driving…

Kashmir Heatwave 2025: Why Temperatures Are Soaring & How to Stay Safe

June 19, 2025 Editor

Heat in the “Paradise on Earth” By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 19 June 2025 Kashmir—often painted in poetry as the “Paradise on Earth”—is grappling with a harsh reality in June 2025: a heatwave that has pushed temperatures beyond comfort and records alike. From Srinagar’s 32.5 °C to Gulmarg’s rare 22.8 °C, the valley’s cool mystique feels under siege. Climate experts warn this is not a blip but a trendline—fueled by urbanisation, deforestation, and global warming—that demands urgent attention. This article unpacks the crisis in plain language, weaving numbers, lived experiences, and actionable…

Climate Chaos in Kashmir: Unseasonal May Snowfall at Razdan Pass Shuts Bandipora-Gurez Road

May 31, 2025May 31, 2025 Editor

Snow in May? A Wake-Up Call for Kashmir Srinagar 30 May 2025: May in Kashmir usually welcomes blooming meadows, gentle rains, and the onset of fruiting seasons in the higher valleys. But this year, in an eerie twist of events, Razdan Pass received fresh snowfall in the middle of May 2025, leading to the sudden suspension of all vehicular traffic on the Bandipora-Gurez road. What once would have been considered unthinkable — snowfall in late spring — is now a climate reality. Authorities and environmentalists alike are viewing this event…

Climate Change Threatens Kashmir’s Identity: Naeem Akhtar Calls for Rapid Response

February 18, 2025 Editor

Kashmir’s basic character under threat due to climate change, No Quick-Fix Solutions; Akhtar Urges Govt to Balance Ecology and Development, Form Rapid Response Force Srinagar, Feb 17: Peoples Democratic Party leader and former Minister Naeem Akhtar on Monday urged the government to constitute a rapid response force and make it a top priority to address the pervasive climate impacts in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the PDP leader, the situation has the potential to alter the character of this Himalayan region, which otherwise serves as a source of ecological stability…

Unpredictable Weather and Dry Spell Ignite Forest Fires in Kashmir

February 17, 2025 Editor

Prolonged Dry Spell: Forest fire breaks out at multiple places in Kashmir The massive forest fire erupted at multiple places across the Valley on Sunday while as the experts here have attributed the rise in forest fire incidents to both climatic factors and human negligence. An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a massive fire broke out in Tral forests. He said that a forest fire broke out in Pinglish area of Tral area and has spread to other areas as well. Another official told KNO that forest…

Haigham Wetland’s Cry for Help: EPG Uncovers Ecological Tragedy

November 27, 2024 Editor

Devastation at Haigham Wetland Conservation Reserve Uncovered by EPG Srinagar, November 27, 2024 – The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) has unveiled a devastating account of environmental degradation at the Haigham Wetland Conservation Reserve, a once-thriving ecosystem now reduced to a desolate landscape of dried grass and fallen vegetation. This internationally recognized wetland under the Ramsar Convention has been systematically destroyed through unchecked encroachment and administrative negligence. Spanning 16,000 kanals, this critical habitat has transformed from a vibrant sanctuary for migratory birds to a barren wasteland. Local communities, who historically depended…

Rain Gauge Running Dry: Kashmir Watches in Worry as Winter Turns Arid

January 8, 2024 Editor

Kashmir is experiencing a prolonged dry spell with no snowfall, causing concern for ecologists and tourism stakeholders who depend on snow for visitors. The lack of snow may impact skiing trips and winter sports, with the fear of cancellations and a decline in tourists. The dry spell is attributed to El Nino, which is expected to persist until next month. Other tourist resorts in the region, such as Pahalgam and Sonamarg, are also without winter allure. Although Kashmir is almost halfway through its harshest 40-day winter period, “Chilla-i-Kalan”, no snow…