Jammu, November 28
The Kashmir Valley is reeling under an unforgiving cold wave this November, as temperatures plunge far below normal and winter arrives with an unexpected ferocity. Srinagar has endured its coldest nights in nearly twenty years, the mercury sinking to -4.5°C—over four degrees beneath the seasonal average. The freeze has stiffened water pipes, sealed taps, and draped rooftops and fields in a brittle frost, compelling residents to cling to the warmth of kangris, the traditional earthen fire pots that glow like lifelines in the biting dark. Morning bazaars stir to life only after the sun has risen, their vendors braving icy winds, while steaming tea stalls have become sanctuaries for weary commuters. In the countryside, farmers watch anxiously as saffron beds and apple orchards—delicate treasures of the Valley—face the threat of sudden, punishing cold.
Snow has already transformed Gulmarg and Zojila Pass into pristine white canvases, luring tourists eager to witness the Valley’s early winter spectacle. Hotels and guesthouses brim with visitors, even as locals steel themselves for harsher nights ahead, with forecasts pointing to dry skies and deeper chills through mid-December. The sharp drop in temperatures has stirred memories among elders of winters past, when Dal Lake froze into a solid sheet and children skated across its glassy surface. Though this year has not yet reached such extremes, the coldest November since 2007 has etched itself as a climatic milestone in Kashmir’s history.
For the people of the Valley, this cold wave is more than a meteorological event—it is a testament to resilience and shared endurance. Families huddle together, neighbors extend warmth, and communities rediscover the strength of unity in the face of nature’s severity. The chill may bite, but it also binds, turning hardship into a reminder of the dignity, spirit, and beauty that define life in the mountains.
