Kashmir’s summers are getting hotter, taking a toll on people and farms

Zaina Begum stood without power and power next to the rice field.

It was a farmer in the Poloa area in the Indian -run Kashmir province, who was waiting for rain for more than a month, in the hope of saving its crop from death.

So when she finally rained earlier this week, she was optimistic.

“But it is too late by that time,” she said. “Our land has completely dried up.”

The intense heat wave has caused Kashmir constipation, an area in the picturesque hemalaya mountains spread with ice rivers known as its cold climate, as temperatures rose to record levels this month.

The region recorded the highest temperature during the day in 70 years at 37.4 ° C (99.32f) – at least 7c higher than the seasonal average.

The valley also witnessed the most important June 50 years ago, prompting the authorities to close schools and colleges for two weeks.

Some rest came earlier this week after parts of the region got heavy rains, but experts say relief is temporary and warning of higher temperatures in the coming days.

The changing weather patterns had a devastating effect on the local population, most of them dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods. Many struggle to stay at work, while others complain about the low quality of the product, causing huge losses.

The MS Begum family cultivates Paddy – a water density crop – for decades on its Federal land (4046 square meters) in the village of Chersoo.

But they hadn’t had one group of healthy harvest in the past five years, as the rain has become gradually more annoying.

“This summer, it seems that our worst fears may be achieved,” she added. “Nothing remains.”

According to a study of 2021, the maximum temperature in Kashmir increased by 2 ° C between 1980 and 2020, indicating an average of 0.5 ° C per contract.

Mukhtar Ahmed, head of the Indian Ministry of Weather Center in the city of Serenagar, said that the region has already witnessed three heat waves this season, which caused the drying of rivers and major tables.

Signs of damage were visible everywhere.

In the Bandipore area, the ranks of smart apple trees were placed in the Ali Muhammad field with an area of 15 acres.

Twenty years ago, he decided to operate the ground, where Badi grew into an apple garden because he felt that the weather and water supplies became very unreliable for rice transplantation.

But now, even its apple crop – which usually requires less water – is struggling to survive.

He said: “The orchards need water at least three times a month, but over the past two months, there has been no rain and drying of irrigation channels.”

The burning heat also affected the population, who are not used to living in such high temperatures.

“I have never seen such a strong thermal wave in my life,” said 63 -year -old Barviz Ahmed, who lives in North Kashmir.

A few days ago, Mr. Ahmed had to be taken to hospital after he complained of shortness of breath.

“The doctors told me that it was caused by heat and humidity,” he said.

Environmental scientists say climate change affects the area, causing harsh weather events and long dry attacks in winter and summer.

Last year, The mountains covered with snow in the area remained a strange and arid structure For several months, after a long delay in annual snowfall.

Mohamed Farouk Azzam, the world of ice and hydrone, said that while the warmer winter led to a decrease in snow, the hottest summer has resulted from the melting of ice rivers, which resulted in disrupting the availability of water and the situation of human health and crops.

“These trends are not just a seasonal anomaly – they represent a regular transformation that may have long -term consequences for water security, agriculture and biological diversity in Kashmir.”

Mr. Azzam explained that most of the winter and snow cashmere rains come from Western turmoil – storms that are formed on the Mediterranean and move east. But these systems have become weaker and less frequent, which leads to a decrease in snowfall and delay in melting snow.

He said: “This reveals the bare earth sooner than usual, which absorbs more heat. With the shrinking of iceotilities and the snow cover, the Earth reflects the sunlight less and the more heat is allowed, making the area warmer.”

Jassia Bashir, a professor at the Islamic University of Science and Technology in the Oantepora region, notes that Kashmir contributes very little to global carbon emissions, as it is limited industry and mostly depends on agriculture and tourism.

However, the area was severely beaten by climate change – which makes it a victim of a crisis that has not played a major role in creation.

“This tells you how climate change is a global phenomenon, not limited to any specific region.”

However, the region has also witnessed the rapid urban expansion in recent years.

Agricultural lands and vast forests have been replaced by concrete buildings, which reduces the ability of the region to regulate the local climate naturally.

According to a report issued by Global Forest Watch (GFW), the wider Jamo and Kashmir region lost nearly 0.39 % of the total tree cover between 2001 and 2023 due to the removal of forests and forest fires.

In addition, government numbers reveal that more than 600,000 trees have fallen in Kashmir over the past five years after identifying them as infringing on the river.

Ms. Bashir said that the urban areas of Kashmir were also suffering from higher energy requirements, especially for air conditioners, which increased greenhouse gas emissions.

She added: “This starts in a vicious cycle: High temperatures lead to increased energy use, which nourishes more emissions and increases warming.”

Critics say that despite the increasing risks, environmental issues rarely issue headlines and are still not a priority for the Kashmir politician.

Tanvir Sadiq, a spokesman for the elected government in the region, denied this and said that the administration was taking the problem of climate change “seriously.”

“The climate change is a global phenomenon and the government alone cannot address,” he added. “However, we explore all the options available to reduce their impact on people.”

But for farmers like Mrs. Begum, any action must occur quickly.

“Otherwise, we will be governed by us,” she said.

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