Less snow means more problems such as a water crisis, power cuts, unseasonal rains, an unpredictable farming pattern, say locals
This photograph taken on January 17, 2024, shows snowless ski resorts and ski slopes that are usually covered in snow at this time of the year in Gulmarg, Kashmir. Image: Tauseef Mustafa/AFP
“Winter updates from the mountains: Snowfall is late this year, literally everywhere,” read travel writer and photographer Abhinav Chandel’s Instagram post in early January.
Chandel, a native of Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, moved to Himachal Pradesh (HP)’s hill station, Dharamshala, a decade ago.
“Back then, it would start snowing by November end. Over the years, it slowly shifted to December and then January,” he says.
But this year, 20 days into January, it hasn’t begun snowing yet. And, there is no likelihood of snow till January 25, according to India Meteorological Department’s meteorologist Sonam Lotus, who took to X to state that there are large winter snowfall deficits across the northern regions of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, HP, and Uttarakhand.
Chandel’s Instagram post states that the period between December 15 and January 31 is a crucial time in the winter in the mountains. It is when the season’s first snow deposits on the slopes as a water reservoir, and subsequent snowfalls cover it up to stop it from melting quickly, thus ensuring there’s ample water for the rest of the year.