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Indian ski town laments snowless winters as climate change threatens livelihoods in Himalayas
- The vibrant slopes of Gulmarg, usually ‘covered in a white blanket’ and drawing skiers and snowboarders from around the globe, now lay barren
- Indian weather stations attribute the unusual weather to both global warming and the presence of El Nino, warning it ‘will repeat itself if we don’t control it’
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Surrounded by the majestic Himalayas, the resort town of Gulmarg in Indian-administered Kashmir is one of Asia’s largest ski destinations. But this year, it faces a profound sense of hopelessness due to a challenge not seen in many years: a winter without snow.
“The lack of snowfall in Gulmarg this year is unlike anything I have ever seen in all my years skiing here,” said Mehraj Din, a member of the Gulmarg ski patrol team.
Din said numerous tourists had already cancelled their trips to the resort after being advised against visiting due to the lack of powder.
The residents of Gulmarg have grown accustomed to the abnormally dry winters, which have occurred far more frequently in Jammu and Kashmir over the past decade.
The unpredictability has left locals feeling uneasy. Like many areas in South Asia, Kashmir has been experiencing extreme weather patterns, with unprecedented summer heatwaves causing the glaciers that provide essential water to the region to melt rapidly.
Din attributes the absence of snowfall to global warming and pollution. He also believes that, based on past weather patterns, there will be no snow in the coming years, meaning major losses to tourism.
Workers who typically cater to visitors, including sledge pullers, tea sellers, and other roadside vendors, are struggling due to the absence of customers. Ski rental shops and ski guides have also been hit hard.
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