escalating heat predicament in Kashmir endangers well-being and crops
In the heart of the Kashmir Valley, the city of Srinagar has been grappling with an unprecedented heatwave and prolonged drought, causing significant long-term impacts on health, agriculture, and food security.
The record-breaking heatwave, marked by sustained high temperatures and extreme night-time warmth, has disrupted normal cooling periods, leading to a surge in heat-related illnesses among the population. Water scarcity and resulting hygiene challenges pose further health risks, as residents face shortages of clean tap water and polluted canal water in areas like Srinagar's Harwan belt. Power shortages caused by drought conditions and a drop in hydropower generation have also aggravated the difficulties in coping with the heat.
Kashmir's key crops, including apples, saffron, and paddy, are under threat due to the higher temperatures affecting crop physiology, reducing yield and quality. Water stress is causing crop wilting, pest outbreaks, and a drastic drop in productivity. For instance, over 50% apple crop loss was reported by farmers in 2024 due to drought and pests. The Jhelum River's water volume has decreased by 30%, bordering drought conditions, which severely impacts irrigation, vital for agriculture and hydroelectric power generation. Saffron cultivation, dependent on rain and irrigation, has shrunk significantly, compounded by non-functional sprinkler systems planned to conserve water.
Adaptive measures have been implemented to mitigate these challenges. The government is deploying water tankers in urban centers like Srinagar to address acute water shortages, working round the clock to meet soaring demand. Schools were closed for nearly two weeks in Srinagar in late June and early July 2025, minimizing heat exposure. Some large-scale sprinkler irrigation projects were initiated to optimize water use, though many of these systems remain inactive or underutilized. Authorities have restricted bathing and car washing in contaminated canal water zones to prevent pollution and disease outbreaks amid water shortages. There is also growing regional discourse on revisiting water-sharing agreements like the Indus Waters Treaty due to perceived inequities and water scarcity exacerbated by the current climate crisis.
Experts caution that without aggressive adaptation efforts, the region faces escalating health burdens and declining food security. Vulnerable populations, including teachers, students, outdoor workers, and the elderly, are at increased risk. Farmers are turning to indoor cultivation to try to safeguard crops. The combination of extreme heat, water scarcity, and crop vulnerability highlights the urgent need for climate resilience strategies in Kashmir and similar vulnerable regions.
- The surge in heat-related illnesses among the population in Srinagar is a direct consequence of the record-breaking heatwave and its effects on normal cooling periods.
- The agricultural sector in Kashmir is experiencing significant challenges due to heatwave-affected crop physiology and water stress, resulting in reduced yield and quality of key crops like apples, saffron, and paddy.
- Innovations in water conservation, such as the use of large-scale sprinkler irrigation systems, are being implemented to optimize water use in the face of the drought, but many of these projects remain inactive or underutilized.
- Environmental science and medical-conditions experts warn that without immediate adaptation efforts, Kashmir and similar regions will face escalating health burdens and declining food security, particularly for vulnerable populations like outdoor workers and the elderly.
- In an effort to combat the climate crisis-induced water scarcity and exacerbated by the current drought, there are ongoing discussions on revisiting water-sharing agreements like the Indus Waters Treaty to ensure equitable distribution of the remaining water resources.
