The erratic intensity of weather has plunged the valley into an agricultural, social, and humanitarian crisis that will leave its imprint for years to come. It is high time the government, local authorities, civil society, media, and individuals come together and treat this as a genuine emergency.
Shafi Naqeeb
Jammu and Kashmir has been grappling with intense climatic upheaval over the past month. This land, celebrated for its lush orchards and springtime bounty, now finds its crops, fields, and pastures ravaged by storms, hail, and untimely rains. The erratic intensity of weather, recurring hailstorms, relentless and gusty winds, and sudden downpours have plunged the valley into a multi-dimensional crisis—agricultural, social, and humanitarian—that will likely leave its imprint for years to come.
Agriculture, and more specifically the fruit industry, is the backbone of Kashmir’s economy. However, the recent natural calamities have upended the farmers’ toil. In numerous districts, severe hailstorms have damaged apple, pear, peach, almonds, grapes and other fruit-bearing trees. Standing crops like maize, cabbage, spinach, and other vegetables have been either flattened or washed away. Excessive rainfall on one hand and high-velocity winds on the other have created an agricultural disaster of enormous magnitude.
Experts and growers unanimously agree that a 40 to 60 per cent drop in yield is inevitable this year. In many places, fruit-laden trees have been uprooted entirely, meaning not just the loss of this season’s produce but also of future yields for many years. The farmers, who invested in fertilisers, pesticides and labour through bank loans, now find themselves bankrupt and disheartened.
Kashmir’s nomadic Gujjar-Bakarwal community, who migrate seasonally with their herds in search of greener pastures, has also been severely affected. Recent windstorms and rains have ripped through their tents, killed livestock, and obstructed their traditional migratory routes. The trails once trodden for centuries are now flooded, muddy and treacherous.
Children are shivering in the cold, women are desperately trying to save sick animals, and the men roam in uncertainty, searching for safe grazing grounds. These communities, a living reflection of Kashmir’s cultural legacy, are today deprived of even the most basic amenities like food, medicine, and shelter.
It is not just crops and animals that are suffering. Human lives are at grave risk due to the recurring storms and unpredictable weather patterns. In many rural areas, electric poles have collapsed, water lines are broken, and roads are completely inaccessible. Several homes have lost their roofs, and some have been flattened entirely. In these conditions, when a person falls ill, there’s neither transportation nor medical access and many elderly and sick individuals have lost their lives due to a lack of timely care.
In light of these catastrophes, the state and central governments must devise a comprehensive and swift strategy. Above all, crop and fruit insurance must be made compulsory. This insurance should not just exist on paper but must be implemented in a way that ensures swift compensation and timely relief for affected individuals. Its terms and conditions should be farmer-friendly, simple and easily understood so that even small farmers can benefit from it.
Simultaneously, the government must allocate emergency relief funds and prepare district-wise lists of the affected population to offer them appropriate compensation. Immediate arrangements should be made for emergency shelters, tents, mobile clinics, and ration distribution centres in the hardest-hit areas.
In these remote and high-altitude regions, mobile dispensaries are the need of the hour. These can save lives by providing immediate care and vaccinating livestock. Likewise, mobile schools should be introduced to ensure that the education of children from these nomadic communities continues uninterrupted, even amid disaster.
The restoration of communication systems should also be a top priority. When storms disrupt phone and internet services, neither can affected people seek help, nor can rescue teams reach them in time. Repairing communication lines can mean the difference between life and death in such emergencies.
It is also worth noting that this region attracts thousands of tourists from across the country and abroad each year. Visitors come not only to witness Kashmir’s scenic beauty but also to observe the lifestyle and culture of its indigenous people. If the local population remains destitute and neglected, the tourism industry too will face serious setbacks.
Globally, Kashmir is now seen as one of the hotspots affected by climate change. International organisations, including the United Nations and environmental NGOs, must also step forward to offer both technical and financial support.
Along with governmental interventions, public awareness and precautionary measures are equally important. Whenever a storm or hailstorm is forecasted, people must seek shelter in solid structures, avoid open fields, trees, and electric poles and ensure all windows and doors are shut securely. Household items should be moved to safer areas. Mobile phones should remain charged to stay connected during emergencies. Important helpline numbers should be kept handy. Special care must be taken for the elderly, the sick, and children during such times.
Additionally, the government should establish emergency relief camps across various districts. These camps must provide first aid, free food supplies, clean drinking water, and access to doctors, educational resources for children, and psychological support for traumatised individuals.
Natural disasters may test human endurance, but they also illuminate the strength of collective action, compassion, and resilience. It is high time the government, local authorities, civil society, media, and individuals come together and treat this as a genuine emergency. If we truly listen to the voices of the affected farmers, fruit growers, nomads, and ordinary citizens and take steps to compensate for their losses, we may still preserve the spirit and soul of Kashmir.
If we act today, we can offer a new beginning to those whose lives have been shattered. And in doing so, we ensure a safer, more resilient, and hopeful Kashmir for the generations yet to come.
hu***********@***il.com