Srinagar Feb 20: The beautiful Kashmir Valley is facing a big problem. Over the last 50 years, the glaciers in the region have lost nearly 20% of their size due to rising temperatures and less snowfall. This is threatening the water supply, farming, and the environment.
A Geoinformatics expert from the University of Kashmir has pointed out a worrying drop in snowfall, especially during Chillai Kalan, the coldest part of winter. “This February, we’ve had very little snow, which is alarming,” the expert said. The glaciers in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and the Karakoram mountains are essential for providing water to the area, and their shrinking size is putting pressure on farmers who depend on irrigation.
The problem is also made worse by black carbon from burning biomass, which speeds up the melting of glaciers by absorbing more heat. The water levels in rivers and lakes are also going down, making it harder for people to get drinking water and for farmers to irrigate their crops..
Experts are saying that something needs to be done quickly to save the glaciers and the environment. If not, it could have serious consequences for the people living in the Kashmir Valley.
