Srinagar, July 10 -- Kashmir has always been proud of its cool summers, and honestly, who wouldn't be?

People built homes without giving a second thought to extreme heat, schools ran full-day classes right through July, and offices barely ever talked about heat safety.

But that old rhythm just doesn't match reality anymore.

Temperatures in the valley are climbing, and the way we plan our public life needs to catch up.

Srinagar has seen repeated spells of unusually high temperatures in recent summers, and this July was no exception, with the city recording readings above 35 degrees Celsius, well above what used to be normal for this time of year.

Scientists point to climate change as the driving force, making heatwaves both more frequ...