Srinagar, Dec 17: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that without snow the government cannot sell Gulmarg and that the impact of climate change can’t be ignored on Kashmir’s tourism sector, especially on winter destinations.

The Chief Minister made the remark at the inauguration of the 17th Annual Convention of the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) at the Sher-I-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), Srinagar.

Addressing the gathering, CM Omar, per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that it was “homecoming” for him to be part of an event that celebrates the spirit of adventure.

Recalling his own adventure experiences, from going up in a hot air balloon to the humble feeling of being part of a summit, he said one doesn’t need to touch Everest to feel on top.

He underlined the impact of climate change on Kashmir’s tourism sector, especially on winter destinations like Gulmarg. “If I don’t have snow, I can’t sell Gulmarg. The reality of climate change can no longer be ignored. We see glaciers receding, snowfall reducing, these are facts we must confront,” he said.

The CM also urged the industry to explore artificial snow-making and new technologies to sustain skiing and winter tourism.

He also acknowledged that the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir had endured a challenging year, citing incidents at Pahalgam attack, weather and Delhi blast that disrupted travel flows. “Only those in the tourism industry understand how hard it is to recover in such times,” he said, adding that the government remains committed to supporting operators and ensuring safe tourism experiences.

He also called for diversifying adventure offerings, from paragliding and hot-air ballooning to new training programs, to make Jammu and Kashmir a year-round adventure destination.

“The world of adventure tourism is expanding rapidly. We want J&K to be part of that global growth story responsibly, safely and sustainably,” he said—(KNO)

Srinagar, Dec 17: The prolonged dry weather in Kashmir is likely to end as there is a possibility of a wet spell in the valley, coinciding with the onset of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ — the 40-day harshest winter period, officials said on Wednesday.

The local weather office has said a western disturbance is likely to impact Jammu and Kashmir during December 21-22 as the winter period marks its entry in the valley.

Due to this weather system, there is a possibility of moderate to heavy snowfall in the higher reaches of Kashmir, and light to moderate rains or snowfall in the plains of the valley, the officials said.

Chillai Kalan begins on December 21.

The chances of snowfall are highest and most frequent, and the temperature drops sharply across the valley during this period that ends on January 30.

So far this winter, the valley has not witnessed any major wet spell. The prevailing dry weather has led to an increase in ailments like cough and the common cold.

Meanwhile, most places in the Kashmir valley continued to experience sub-zero night temperatures, the officials said.

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius on Tuesday night, compared to Monday night’s minus 1.8 degrees Celsius, the officials said.

A thick layer of fog engulfed the city and most other parts of the valley, particularly areas around water bodies, during the early hours.

Qazigund in south Kashmir recorded a low of minus 3 degrees Celsius, while the temperature in Kupwara in north Kashmir settled at minus 2.2 degrees Celsius. Kokernag in south Kashmir registered a minimum of minus 0.1 degrees Celsius.

In Gulmarg, the minimum temperature settled above the freezing point at 1.6 degrees Celsius, the weather office said.

Pahalgam, one of the base camps for the Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir, logged a low of minus 2.8 degrees Celsius.

Shopian and Pulwama towns in south Kashmir were the coldest recorded places in Jammu and Kashmir, registering the minimum of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius.

Srinagar, Dec 17: Cold conditions continued across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Wednesday, with several places in the Kashmir Valley recording sub-zero minimum temperatures, officials said.

In the Kashmir region, Pulwama and Shopian were the coldest, both recording a minimum temperature of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius, followed by Anantnag at minus 4.2 degrees and Pampore at minus 4.0 degrees Celsius.

Srinagar recorded a low of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature at Srinagar airport settled at minus 2.6 degrees, officials said.

Other places in the Valley also remained below freezing, with Qazigund recording minus 3.0 degrees, Awantipora minus 3.2 degrees, Baramulla minus 3.5 degrees and Budgam minus 2.6 degrees Celsius.

Kupwara and Bandipora both recorded a minimum of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, while Ganderbal settled at minus 1.4 degrees. Kokernag recorded a low of minus 0.1 degrees, while Kulgam was slightly above freezing at 0.1 degrees Celsius.

Tourist destinations recorded comparatively higher minimum temperatures, with Gulmarg recording 1.6 degrees Celsius and Sonamarg 0.6 degrees, officials said. Zojila Pass was the coldest spot in the region, registering a minimum temperature of minus 16.0 degrees Celsius.

In the Jammu region, minimum temperatures were relatively higher, with Jammu city recording 9.0 degrees Celsius and Jammu airport 9.4 degrees.

Katra recorded 11.1 degrees, while Banihal and Bhaderwah both recorded a minimum of 3.4 degrees Celsius. Rajouri was among the colder places in the region at 1.8 degrees Celsius.

In Ladakh, Leh recorded a minimum temperature of minus 6.3 degrees Celsius, Kargil minus 5.8 degrees and Nubra Valley minus 5.0 degrees, officials said.

The Meteorological Department has advised residents to take precautions against cold weather conditions.(KNS).

Srinagar, Dec 16: The newly demarcated sections of Srinagar Smart City roads promise to make cycling enjoyable and walking aesthetically pleasing, but fail dismally to allow ambulances to pass smoothly.

There are no expressways for ambulances and no traffic plans to clear the way for a vehicle rushing a patient to the hospital, even as the Golden Hour slips away minute by minute in traffic jams.

Recently, the Srinagar administration brainstormed the Sonarkol Road Project for “ambulances and commuters”.

The administration said the alternate route to SMHS Hospital, Super Specialty Hospital, and other hospitals would reduce travel time and offer a sustainable solution to traffic congestion along this critical corridor.

According to stakeholders, routes that bypass market areas and densely populated zones on hospital stretches are a vital lifeline that the J&K government must prioritise.

Traffic snarls are not merely a daily nuisance in Kashmir.

They can cost lives.

With no dedicated lanes or express routes for ambulances, emergencies often turn into tragedies.

In J&K, road traffic accidents are common and frequently result in casualties or critical injuries.

In addition, patients suffering strokes, heart attacks, falls, burns, electrocutions, and other medical emergencies are brought from across Kashmir to SKIMS Soura or SMHS Hospital for specialised treatment.

Over the years, people have voiced concern about patients routinely arriving late at these hospitals.

Sometimes, the consequences are fatal.

Many vehicles on the road do part ways for blaring sirens, yet ambulances frequently get trapped in gridlock caused by massive volumes of cars, public transport and unregulated parking.

Vendor encroachments create another layer of delay.

For those transporting loved ones in private vehicles during an emergency, the situation is even dire.

No amount of honking can ease the passage to the hospital.

It can become a death sentence.

Roads leading to SKIMS Soura and SMHS Hospital are in a state of despair – narrow at many points and narrowed further by divisions into cycle tracks, footpaths, dividers, and encroaching elements.

Vehicles struggle to navigate stretches such as Karan Nagar, Jehangir Chowk, Athwajan-Pantha Chowk, Batamaloo-Qamarwari, Shalteng and Noorbagh-Safakadal, among others.

These roads have been consistently devastating when it comes to rapid patient transport.

As per hospital records and social media reports, many patients reach hospitals late – often beyond the point at which their lives, hearts, brains, limbs and organs could have been saved.

“Every second counts in an emergency, but for us, traffic turned minutes into eternities,” said Aisha Malik of Pampore, whose father suffered a heart attack in October this year. “He was gasping and sinking, and we kept honking and blaring the siren.”

Although the family used an ambulance to ferry him to SMHS Hospital, it took nearly one and a half hours to arrive, after getting stuck at Pantha Chowk and Jehangir Chowk.

“The helplessness of even those commuters who want to help an ambulance is heartbreaking,” Malik said.

Health advocates, social activists and citizens have consistently urged the government to prioritise emergency lanes and digital traffic management systems to ensure smoother passage for ambulances.