In a region once celebrated for its crisp mountain air and cool summers, Kashmir is now grappling with a new reality scorching heatwaves and a booming demand for air conditioners.
This summer srinagar hit 37.4°C on July 5, its hottest July day in 70 years. June was no better, marking the hottest in five decades, with average highs nearly 3°C above normal. The impact of this climate anomaly is showing up in unexpected places like the shelves of appliance stores, now cleared of ACs and coolers.
Owais Ahmad a household appliance dealer in Srinagar said he sold 150 air conditioners in just the first three days of July a figure he used to reach in an entire year. “I’ve run out of stock. More are on the way, but customers will have to wait,” he said.
Traditionally ACs in the Valley were considered winter luxuries used sparingly, if at all. But now, residential demand is overwhelming, reflecting how climate change is reshaping lifestyle needs. Cooler sales have also more than doubled in urban centres like Sopore, where heat and diminishing tree cover are combining to make indoor living unbearable.
Residents are stunned. Mohammad Danish, who is desperately searching for a dual-season AC, said, “Five years ago, no one would believe Kashmir needed air conditioning. Now, it feels necessary.”
Beyond inconvenience, the heat has turned dangerous. In the absence of relief, many especially teenagers are turning to rivers and lakes to cool off. Officials have reported 11 drowning deaths recently, prompting the government to ban bathing in water bodies across the region.
This sudden shift in Kashmir weather patterns and lifestyle highlights a growing climate crisis that is disrupting both ecology and economy. The serene Valley, once an escape from India summer heat is now at the frontline of global warming’s unsettling impacts.