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Climate Crisis in the Himalayas Jammu and Kashmir War With the Extreme Weather

August 18, 2025

Tragedy in Kishtwar: A wake-up call

The quaint little hamlet of Chasoti located near Machail Mata temple in Kishtwar district became the next victim of Jammu & Kashmir’s increasing weather vagaries, as flash floods, caused by heavy rainfall, washed away scores of its residents, killing at least 65 and leaving more than 50 missing. This was no isolated tragedy – it signaled a disturbing trend of climate-related disasters in the Himalayas.

 

Out Of Control – The Frequency of Extreme Weather (2010-2022)

Meteorological data The following trend probably does not bode well:

  • 2,863 extreme weather events recorded
  • 1,942 thunderstorms (most frequent occurrence)
  • 409 heavy rainfall events
  • 186 mudslides and 168 flash floods
  • 552 total deaths due to to these events

Deadliest Weather Phenomena

Weather Event- Fatalities-(Most Affected Districts)

Heavy Snow-182-Kupwara-(Kupwara, Bandipora)

Flash Floods-170+ (Kishtwar,Doda, Anantnag)

Landslides-120+(Ramban,Ganderbal)

The Climate Change Connection

Three connected elements are changing the weather dynamics of Jammu & Kashmir:

Accelerated Himalayan Warming

Warms in the western Himalayas have occurred at twice the rate of the Indian subcontinent, amounting to:

  • The river has been affected by the increased melting of glaciers, leading to the creation of unstable lakes
  • Wetter in warm air
  • More intense precipitation events

Shifting Western Disturbances

These critical winter rain systems are changing in perilous ways:

  • "Now happening outside the normal winter seasons."
  • Fueled by a warmer Arabian Sea adding extra moisture
  • Delivering heavier, more concentrated rainfall

Topographic Amplification

This is thanks to the area’s mountainous topography that acts as a force multiplier

  • High mountains produce enough energy to squeeze the water from extreme rainfall
  • Steep slopes accelerate flood waters
  • Vulnerable geology prone to landslides

Ground Zero: Most Vulnerable Districts

Flash Flood Hotspots

  • Kishtwar: 42 flash floods have occurred here since 2010
  • Doda: Tributaries of Chenab face chronic flooding
  • Anantnag: Subject to concurrent floods and landslides

Landslide Corridors

  • Ramban: NH-44's "landslide zone"
  • Ganderbal: Sensitive glacial-fed valleys
  • Kulgam: Unstable slopes after deforestation

The Human Cost

In addition to those killed, these catastrophes result in:

  • Mass displacement: 15,000+ displaced annually

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