Srinagar, Jan 10 : Tourists Disappointed as Kashmir Experiences Scarcity of Snowfall
A multitude of tourists have left Kashmir without experiencing the anticipated snowfall, impacting not only tourism but also posing threats to agriculture and related activities due to the lack of winter precipitation in the valley.
Numerous visitors who arrived on New Year’s Eve with hopes of indulging in skiing and other snow-related activities in the Gulmarg bowl were left disheartened by the absence of snowfall.
Pankaj Singh, a resident of Delhi, lamented, “We had booked a seven-day package from January 3 to January 9 to enjoy the snow in Gulmarg. But there is no snow. We had expected a white landscape, but it is brown like any other region of North India.”
Tourists like Singh, accompanied by family, had plans for skiing and jet-ski rides, which were thwarted by the lack of snowfall. Concerns are rising among those in the tourism industry as the absence of snowfall could negatively impact the livelihoods of thousands of people in the valley.
Muzaffar Ahmad, a tour operator, expressed worry, stating, “This winter has been a very bad advertisement for our trade. Although Kashmir is not the only place that witnessed a lack of snow, our winter tourism mostly depends on snowfall.”
Omar Abdullah, an avid skier and National Conference (NC) leader, highlighted the implications of the dry winter in Gulmarg. He expressed concern about potential problems for valley residents in the summer, emphasizing the critical role of snowfall in sustaining water sources for rivers and streams.
Local farmers echo these concerns, anticipating severe impacts on agricultural produce and water scarcity for irrigation. A video posted by a user showed a wildfire in the Gulmarg golf course, a rare phenomenon in January, further highlighting the unusual dry spell.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports a significant deficit in winter snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh. Sonam Lotus, Director, IMD Leh Centre, noted that there is no forecast for active Western Disturbance or snowfall until January 25, with satellite images depicting rapid glacier melting.
IMD’s data reveals a 79% deficit in rainfall for December 2023, and the dry spell continues into January. The situation jeopardizes the upcoming fourth Khelo India National Winter Games scheduled for Gulmarg from February 2, raising concerns about the feasibility of conducting the event.
