Kashmir’s Cool Charm Turns Scorching Nightmare
By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 01 July 2025
Once famed for its crisp mountain air, scenic meadows, and refreshing climate, Kashmir is now grappling with a relentless heatwave that has turned its idyllic summer into a harsh survival test. From the dried-up banks of the Jhelum River to wilting paddy fields in Baramulla and Pattan, the region is facing a cascading environmental emergency.
Srinagar, the capital city that once offered respite to mainland India’s heat-struck tourists, recorded a searing 34.5°C recently—a temperature rarely seen in its summer records. With no significant rainfall expected before July 8, and meteorological predictions offering no immediate relief, this heatwave isn’t just about the weather. It’s a multi-layered crisis threatening agriculture, water security, public health, and the environment.
Breaking Records: Kashmir’s Unprecedented Heatwave
This isn’t the typical warm spell that residents are used to. The mercury has been consistently rising in Srinagar, with surrounding areas such as Kupwara, Qazigund, and Kokernag also touching or surpassing the 33°C mark—temperatures typically associated with North Indian plains, not the Himalayas.
The Meteorological Department of Jammu and Kashmir has issued advisories warning of prolonged dry conditions, with no major precipitation expected until at least the second week of July. The Kashmir Valley, which usually depends on its temperate summer climate for agriculture, tourism, and general well-being, is now inching dangerously close to heat stress levels that challenge both infrastructure and health systems.
Local Climate Experts Sound the Alarm
Climate researchers and environmental experts are pointing to a deeper issue: the rapid pace of climate change and loss of natural buffers like glaciers and wetlands. These extreme temperatures are no longer isolated anomalies but part of a shifting climatic trend that threatens to redefine Kashmir’s environmental stability.
“We are seeing a direct correlation between rising heat, glacier shrinkage, and declining water bodies. Kashmir is witnessing a climate transition that needs urgent mitigation strategies,” says Dr. Arshid Ahmad, a climatologist at Kashmir University.
Water Woes Deepen: Jhelum and Wullar Hit Critical Lows
The soaring temperatures are not just uncomfortable—they are devastating Kashmir’s water resources. The Jhelum River, the region’s lifeline, has seen a dramatic drop in water levels. Once brimming tributaries such as the Rambiyara, Lidder, and Sindh are drying up, leading to alarming consequences for irrigation and drinking water supply.
Wullar Lake, Asia’s largest freshwater lake and a crucial ecological resource in North Kashmir, is drying out at a shocking rate. Once a haven for fishers and waterfowl, its receding shoreline now reveals cracked mudflats and dying aquatic life.
Irrigation Collapse Across North Kashmir
Irrigation canals in Baramulla, Tangmarg, and Pattan—particularly those fed by the Ferozpura Nallah—have all but stopped flowing. This has triggered a severe agricultural crisis just as paddy transplantation was reaching its peak.
Farmers, already reeling under economic pressure, are being forced to watch their fields dry up without water. In some areas, farmers are using hand buckets and makeshift pumps to draw what little water remains from underground wells, but the results are insufficient.
“This is a death sentence for our crops. If this continues for another week, there will be nothing to harvest,” says Ghulam Nabi, a 62-year-old farmer from Pattan.
Agriculture in Peril: Kashmir’s Food Security at Stake
Paddy fields, the green soul of the Valley’s rural economy, are cracking under the harsh sun. The transplantation window for rice—a water-intensive crop—is closing fast, leaving thousands of hectares barren. According to preliminary estimates from the Department of Agriculture, over 35% of the Valley’s paddy fields are under direct threat due to water shortages.
Double Trouble for Farmers
This year’s crisis comes on the heels of a late and uneven spring, which had already affected sowing patterns. Now, the heatwave and water scarcity are pushing many farmers to the brink. With input costs rising and yields falling, rural households are being pushed into economic distress.
“No rain, no canal water, no help. We feel abandoned,” said a distressed farmer in Tangmarg. “We’re not just losing a crop—we’re losing our livelihood.”
Drinking Water vs. Irrigation: A Tug-of-War Brewing
As water becomes increasingly scarce, a sharp conflict is emerging between the needs of agriculture and urban consumption. In cities like Srinagar, the government has prioritized drinking water supply, diverting limited resources toward urban households.
This shift, while necessary for immediate public health, has deepened rural grievances. Many village communities in Baramulla and Kupwara report receiving less than 30% of their usual irrigation water allocation.
Infrastructure & Policy Failures Come to Light
Farmers’ unions are now demanding a full audit of water diversion schemes, alleging mismanagement and lack of equitable distribution. There is also rising pressure on the government to revisit the water-sharing policies that prioritize certain districts while ignoring others.
Meanwhile, water tanker services have been deployed in cities, but these remain inaccessible to rural populations. A resident in Sopore lamented: “The cities are getting water tankers while we don’t even have water for our cattle.”
Urban Heat Islands: Srinagar’s Vulnerable Face
The concrete sprawl of Srinagar is amplifying the heatwave’s impact through what scientists call the urban heat island effect—where densely built areas absorb and retain more heat than surrounding rural regions.
This effect is particularly dangerous for vulnerable groups such as:
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Children walking to school
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Elderly individuals with preexisting health issues
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Street vendors and laborers working outdoors
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Residents of tin-roofed or poorly ventilated homes
Health Warnings Rise
Local clinics are reporting a sharp increase in heat-related illnesses—dehydration, heatstroke, and respiratory distress. The city’s health infrastructure, already strained, is bracing for further spikes if temperatures continue to rise.
Schools have been advised to shift to early morning timings to reduce exposure, while some private institutions have temporarily shut down physical classes altogether.
Climate Change & Kashmir: A Harsh New Reality
This summer’s crisis is not a random incident—it’s part of a larger climatic transformation gripping the Himalayas. According to data from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and independent research institutes, Kashmir’s average summer temperature has increased by 1.5°C over the past two decades.
Meanwhile, glacial retreat in the Himalayas has accelerated significantly. The Kolahoi, Machoi, and Thajiwas glaciers—crucial for river systems in the Valley—are shrinking at an alarming rate. This has disrupted the seasonal flow of water, creating unpredictable drought-flood cycles.
What the Data Tells Us
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Glacier loss: Over 40% shrinkage in small glaciers since 1995.
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Rainfall anomaly: 60% less rainfall than average in June 2025.
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Snowmelt timing: Peak snowmelt has shifted earlier by 20–25 days.
What’s Being Done: Mitigation & Response Efforts
Despite the severity of the crisis, response efforts remain scattered and largely reactive. Here’s what’s been done so far:
Government Steps
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Revised school hours to protect children from peak heat.
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Deployment of water tankers in urban pockets like Rajbagh, Lal Chowk, and Bemina.
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Mobile health units in selected hotspots to deal with heat-related ailments.
However, rural areas remain grossly underserved, and systemic planning is lacking.
Civil Society & Farmers’ Response
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Protests by farmer groups demanding compensation and better irrigation planning.
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Environmental NGOs calling for wetland restoration and urban greening to cool down cities.
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Scientists urging long-term glacier monitoring and early warning systems for water shortages.
What Needs to Change: A Call to Action
Kashmir needs more than short-term fixes. What’s urgently required is a climate resilience roadmap that includes:
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Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM)
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Monitor, regulate and equitably distribute water from glaciers to households.
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Glacier Protection Zones
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Declare high-altitude zones as protected environments with restricted human activity.
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Reforestation & Wetland Conservation
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Revive Wullar, Anchar, and Hokersar wetlands to naturally regulate microclimate.
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Decentralized Irrigation Solutions
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Promote solar-powered borewells, rainwater harvesting, and canal repair works.
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Heat-Resilient Urban Planning
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Encourage green roofs, tree-lined streets, and reflective building materials in urban projects.
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Conclusion: Kashmir’s Wake-Up Call from Nature
Kashmir is facing a defining environmental moment. The heatwave of 2025 is not just a climatic anomaly—it’s a climate crisis unfolding in real-time, threatening livelihoods, biodiversity, water security, and the very identity of the Valley as a cool summer retreat.
As glaciers melt, rivers dry, crops fail, and cities overheat, Kashmir must pivot quickly toward a sustainable and climate-smart future. The region’s survival depends on how effectively it adapts—scientifically, politically, and socially—to the harsh new climate reality.
The Himalayas are speaking. The question is: Are we ready to listen?
