![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PTYP5VARVZED2TRZKHOFYW6APU.jpg?smart=true&auth=7168dc12c36aa581686685b0388799048b774f106f2d57bb1be3cfffba22fd2e&width=400&height=225)
This combination photograph shows a view of snow-covered Tangmarg village on Jan. 27, 2017, top, and the same view on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024 of Tangmarg, northwest of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir. A prolonged dry spell is sweeping across the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir during the harshest phase of winter, leaving many people sick and farmers worried about impending water shortages. (AP Photo / Dar Yasin)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/275V6XQ7QZFS3ILV5ANBSF4VZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=b8ca4399cee9f3aa9ebb8ace594d25dccd43ad669b4beff55046b3ed42faa90c&width=400&height=225)
Affluent tourists take $160 helicopter rides in Gulmarg, Kashmir, as there is no snow for traditional winter sports. Wasim Nabi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3OFTDHTAUJDN3I7NCSFDSSMXE4.jpg?smart=true&auth=4ad7d8369c381732b35c5000988fd92a9d81601763531306e263289628961b46&width=400&height=225)
Horses line up with few customers for rides in Gulmarg, Kashmir. Wasim Nabi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TEU5TDTHNFG2ZK5LUEUJ7GWQYM.jpg?smart=true&auth=fa34a4afc7459b291fa52b44cb9bb56721ba9a3cfeac1f91bee1f161de7b905b&width=400&height=225)
A houseboat in River Jhelum, Srinagar, sits low because of depleted water levels. Wasim Nabi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4DZYP4NW2ZAZTPYLG43LAER3LE.jpg?smart=true&auth=eb2e10e88423a86d35fdf8b33755517fa5e9d3f2e6e303c01e3ea50a33805d0c&width=400&height=225)
The bed of the River Jhelum in Hativara neighbourhood of north Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Wasim Nabi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OTRBWERYTJCLFMVH3YUPHKM6SQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=c2033cd40c287485f461c6e0dab8b9121c00d8480c677dfab6b2c44676558e0e&width=400&height=225)
Locals at Gulmarg, Kashmir, are idle as few tourists visit the ski resort because no snow has fallen. Wasim Nabi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TTYKNXGCG5CH3BKDZESKBX5XGM.jpg?smart=true&auth=5e7c67e8c41d90871098ff38166620eb061fd01d30813a9333e0af9e7c4b9842&width=400&height=225)
Tourists venture out to ski and sledge on a thin layer of snow. Wasim Nabi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZCEM6B4WQVH4RPBJSGYABSPPNY.jpg?smart=true&auth=e257181b1488ce4b14a1a62beb343937a0885a8a2c943286020d9d1f5089bd24&width=400&height=225)
Saffron fields are barren as snow is needed for germination, causing worries for farmers. Wasim Nabi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KRW3WRCCBJGA7OZEZCWDV63FAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=41f6aa605f1d1fbdeda31a7f9c81d082e63afff6636b563967a364fb934f9dbd&width=400&height=225)
Syntactic chambers, colloquially known as plastic igloos, introduced by Kolahoi Green Heights Hotel in 2023 for outdoor snow dining are doing slow business. Wasim Nabi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HJMZM7DWXBEXPJJOD3QYPXBUDA.jpg?smart=true&auth=b844c3912ee2e2d8f5b60edb82d655e6dcbdde56937a6e4064c266ab8284c2c1&width=400&height=225)
Queues at a hospital in Srinagar as flu, fever, and coughs spread in the prolonged spell of dry weather. Wasim Nabi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C7MXO4Y232PJO5WSBOPAGCITZA.jpg?smart=true&auth=5f05a1a1ab4b398b2984e56df1047820b243230fd6b044e347b1ab10a0f23c24&width=400&height=225)
Kashmiri men repair a house boat on the Jhelum River, taking advantage of the dry spell. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FYW5QXJWU635I4MHUKYBB53X2A.jpg?smart=true&auth=7430e291dc9b25e61ddbb1407713dc2ee045b42bb20fb965e20bee07b630562b&width=400&height=225)
Cable car cabins pictured in January 2022 at Gulmarg, a scene that contrasts with this season's lack of snow. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PTYP5VARVZED2TRZKHOFYW6APU.jpg?smart=true&auth=7168dc12c36aa581686685b0388799048b774f106f2d57bb1be3cfffba22fd2e&width=400&height=225)
This combination photograph shows a view of snow-covered Tangmarg village on Jan. 27, 2017, top, and the same view on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024 of Tangmarg, northwest of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir. A prolonged dry spell is sweeping across the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir during the harshest phase of winter, leaving many people sick and farmers worried about impending water shortages. (AP Photo / Dar Yasin)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/275V6XQ7QZFS3ILV5ANBSF4VZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=b8ca4399cee9f3aa9ebb8ace594d25dccd43ad669b4beff55046b3ed42faa90c&width=400&height=225)
Affluent tourists take $160 helicopter rides in Gulmarg, Kashmir, as there is no snow for traditional winter sports. Wasim Nabi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3OFTDHTAUJDN3I7NCSFDSSMXE4.jpg?smart=true&auth=4ad7d8369c381732b35c5000988fd92a9d81601763531306e263289628961b46&width=400&height=225)
Horses line up with few customers for rides in Gulmarg, Kashmir. Wasim Nabi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TEU5TDTHNFG2ZK5LUEUJ7GWQYM.jpg?smart=true&auth=fa34a4afc7459b291fa52b44cb9bb56721ba9a3cfeac1f91bee1f161de7b905b&width=400&height=225)
A houseboat in River Jhelum, Srinagar, sits low because of depleted water levels. Wasim Nabi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4DZYP4NW2ZAZTPYLG43LAER3LE.jpg?smart=true&auth=eb2e10e88423a86d35fdf8b33755517fa5e9d3f2e6e303c01e3ea50a33805d0c&width=400&height=225)
The bed of the River Jhelum in Hativara neighbourhood of north Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Wasim Nabi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OTRBWERYTJCLFMVH3YUPHKM6SQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=c2033cd40c287485f461c6e0dab8b9121c00d8480c677dfab6b2c44676558e0e&width=400&height=225)
Locals at Gulmarg, Kashmir, are idle as few tourists visit the ski resort because no snow has fallen. Wasim Nabi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TTYKNXGCG5CH3BKDZESKBX5XGM.jpg?smart=true&auth=5e7c67e8c41d90871098ff38166620eb061fd01d30813a9333e0af9e7c4b9842&width=400&height=225)
Tourists venture out to ski and sledge on a thin layer of snow. Wasim Nabi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZCEM6B4WQVH4RPBJSGYABSPPNY.jpg?smart=true&auth=e257181b1488ce4b14a1a62beb343937a0885a8a2c943286020d9d1f5089bd24&width=400&height=225)
Saffron fields are barren as snow is needed for germination, causing worries for farmers. Wasim Nabi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KRW3WRCCBJGA7OZEZCWDV63FAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=41f6aa605f1d1fbdeda31a7f9c81d082e63afff6636b563967a364fb934f9dbd&width=400&height=225)
Syntactic chambers, colloquially known as plastic igloos, introduced by Kolahoi Green Heights Hotel in 2023 for outdoor snow dining are doing slow business. Wasim Nabi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HJMZM7DWXBEXPJJOD3QYPXBUDA.jpg?smart=true&auth=b844c3912ee2e2d8f5b60edb82d655e6dcbdde56937a6e4064c266ab8284c2c1&width=400&height=225)
Queues at a hospital in Srinagar as flu, fever, and coughs spread in the prolonged spell of dry weather. Wasim Nabi for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C7MXO4Y232PJO5WSBOPAGCITZA.jpg?smart=true&auth=5f05a1a1ab4b398b2984e56df1047820b243230fd6b044e347b1ab10a0f23c24&width=400&height=225)
Kashmiri men repair a house boat on the Jhelum River, taking advantage of the dry spell. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FYW5QXJWU635I4MHUKYBB53X2A.jpg?smart=true&auth=7430e291dc9b25e61ddbb1407713dc2ee045b42bb20fb965e20bee07b630562b&width=400&height=225)
Cable car cabins pictured in January 2022 at Gulmarg, a scene that contrasts with this season's lack of snow. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PTYP5VARVZED2TRZKHOFYW6APU.jpg?smart=true&auth=7168dc12c36aa581686685b0388799048b774f106f2d57bb1be3cfffba22fd2e&width=400&height=225)
This combination photograph shows a view of snow-covered Tangmarg village on Jan. 27, 2017, top, and the same view on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024 of Tangmarg, northwest of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir. A prolonged dry spell is sweeping across the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir during the harshest phase of winter, leaving many people sick and farmers worried about impending water shortages. (AP Photo / Dar Yasin)
Postcard from Kashmir: Snowless winter leaves tourists hot under the collar
Experts blame climate change for the prolonged dry spell in the valley
![Taniya Dutta](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Ff16b3521-2438-42ac-a914-4072ef298f1c.png?smart=true&auth=2e7bd18a9d681304782408cd2ad4662f50ed2dec6f481149b8eb1cac80d9d410&width=70&height=70)
Taniya Dutta
19 January, 2024
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