Srinagar, May 12 -- The fragile snowpack across the Himalayas this winter has once again exposed the delicate balance between climate variability and water security in Kashmir. Though precipitation in March and April has provided temporary relief, the broader trajectory is deeply concerning. Declining snow persistence, shrinking glaciers, and rising winter temperatures are altering the hydrological rhythms that have sustained rivers, springs, and farmlands for centuries. What was once a dependable reservoir of frozen water is increasingly unreliable, with snowfall replaced by rainfall even in peak winter months.

The implications are far-reaching. Agriculture, particularly apple orchards and paddy cultivation, depends on gradual snowmelt ...