SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir is bracing for a severe heatwave over the next four days, with temperatures hitting record highs and impacting both daily life and the region's delicate ecosystems.
Srinagar, the summer capital, recorded its second-highest July temperature in a decade at 35.6°C, matching Jammu City’s temperature. Qazigund registered its third all-time highest temperature at 34.2°C.
Other parts of Kashmir, including Pahalgam and Kupwara, also experienced significant temperature increases, with the mercury rising to 29.3°C and 35.0°C, respectively. This heatwave is expected to continue, with weather models forecasting dry conditions and potential record-breaking temperatures.
The ongoing heatwave has exacerbated water scarcity issues, leading to public protests in Baramulla district. Residents, particularly within Pattan jurisdiction, have voiced their concerns over severe water shortages, prompting police to urge people not to block highways.
A recent violent demonstration at Chainabal saw the Srinagar-Baramulla National Highway blocked in protest. In response, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Pattan, Dr Gulzar Ahmed, assured residents that their grievances would be addressed promptly, with water tankers deployed on a roaster basis to mitigate the crisis.
The rising temperatures are also threatening Kashmir’s aquatic life. Experts warn that the heat wave is disrupting the region’s aquatic ecosystems, leading to potential mass fish mortality.
Fish are highly sensitive to changes in water temperature, and the heatwave is causing water levels to drop and oxygen levels to decrease. This hostile environment has already led to incidents of mass fish deaths, with the most recent occurring in the Tsoont Koel stream near Barbar Shah, Srinagar.
Research highlights the deteriorating water quality in lakes such as Dal Lake, where dissolved oxygen levels have fallen drastically due to untreated sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial waste. The increased biological oxygen demand from pollution, combined with rising temperatures, creates a deadly combination for aquatic life.
Dr. Mehraj Bashir, an ichthyologist, noted that while some fish species can tolerate higher temperatures and pollution levels, the native Schizothorax species is particularly vulnerable and has seen declining numbers.
Meanwhile, despite the severe heatwave, the Education Department in Doda and Kishtwar districts has yet to change school timings, unlike in other parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Chief Education Officer (CEO) Doda, Prakash Lal Thapa, stated that no representations from parents or heads of institutions have been received to prompt a change in school hours, leaving students to endure the harsh conditions.
As the heatwave continues to grip the region, authorities and experts alike are calling for vigilance and immediate measures to mitigate its impact on both human and aquatic life. Relief is expected after July 28, with a forecasted decline in temperatures.
This post first appeared on The Kashmir Pulse
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