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Agence France-Presse

India suspended its winter games on Monday due to a lack of snow in one of the world’s highest ski resorts, in a stark sign of rising global temperatures.
While snow levels fluctuate each year, scientists say climate change is driving erratic rainfall and shifting weather patterns.
The Himalayan resort of Gulmarg in Indian-administered Kashmir was due to hold national competitions in alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, ski mountaineering and snowboarding from February 22-25.
Organisers had planned for hundreds of athletes to take part, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier said he was looking forward to the games, which would “encourage upcoming talent”.

“The Khelo Winter Games … has been postponed due to insufficient snowfall,” the region’s Sports Council said in a statement.
“A new assessment will be conducted once snow conditions improve.”
But slopes are lacking enough snow in the tournament’s location, perched at 2,650 metres (8,694 feet).
Kashmir’s once-thriving skiing industry has been hammered by a lack of snow in recent years.

Beyond the collapse of the skiing industry, many in the ecologically fragile region are worried about impending water shortages that would have a dire potential impact on agriculture.
Snow melt usually helps refresh the rivers, and changing weather patterns have already altered farming practices, heightening problems of water shortages and the risk of forest fires.
India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences said in a 2020 report that they expected the Himalayas and Kashmir would be “particularly subject” to warming temperatures.
Last year was the hottest on record, and the combined average temperature of 2023 and 2024 exceeded the 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) warming threshold for the first time.


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India pauses Kashmir winter games amid snowless ski slopes

Tourists ride horses on grassy, snowless ski slopes in Gulmarg, Indian-administered Kashmir, in January last year. Photo: AP

A ski instructor helps a young tourist practise skiing on a patch of melted snow in Gulmarg last winter. Photo: AP

Skiers in Gulmarg in January 2021 (top) and the same ski slope is seen snowless in January last year. Photo: AP

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Indian ski town laments snowless winters as climate change threatens livelihoods in Himalayas

Gulmarg in Indian Kashmir, one of Asia’s largest ski destination, faces a winter without snow. Photo: Kamran Yousuf

Gulmarg in Indian Kashmir, one of Asia’s largest ski destination, faces a winter without snow. Photo: Umar Farooq 

The snowless ski slopes of Gulmarg. Photo: Umar Farooq 

A private ski shop in the Gulmarg area has seen few customers due to a lack of snow. Photo: Umar Farooq 

A ski resort in Gulmarg, and one of the main tourist attractions in the Kashmir region in January 2022. This year, the area is dealing with a lack of snow. Photo: Reuters

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News

Asia

South Asia

Despite being located at 2,650 metres above sea level, there was insufficient snowfall for this year’s Khelo Winter Games to get under way


Despite being located at 2,650 metres above sea level, there was insufficient snowfall for this year’s Khelo Winter Games to get under way.


Weather

Climate change

Environment

Kashmir