In the absence of a thick blanket of snow at the famous Gulmarg Ski resort, the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council Monday decided to postpone the 5th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games, initially set for February 22-25, 2025.
The Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council also announced that a new assessment will be conducted once snow conditions improve, after which a revised schedule will be announced.
According to official sources in the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council, around 300 athletes were set to compete in four snow sports-ski mountaineering, alpine skiing, snowboarding, and Nordic skiing-from February 22 to 25.
“We have decided to postpone the event as key ski slopes lack sufficient snow,†said Rauf Tramboo, president of the Winter Games Association of Jammu and Kashmir. Normally, the slopes receive seven to eight feet (about 2 meters) of snowfall, but this year’s conditions have been unusually dry.
Several parts of Jammu and Kashmir have already witnessed a sudden rise in the day temperature by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius. However, the weathermen have raised hopes by predicting a fresh spell of rain/snow in parts of Kashmir between February 19-20.
According to the forecast, “Weather is expected to remain generally cloudy with light to moderate rain/snow at many places from the 19th evening till the 20th of Februaryâ€. “The Plains of Kashmir & Jammu may receive light to moderate Rain/Thunder with gusty winds at a few places. Higher reaches of Chenab Valley & South Kashmir may receive moderate snowfall (6-10 inches) while higher reaches of North & Central Kashmir may receive 4-8 inches of fresh snowâ€. Jammu and Kashmir is currently witnessing a prolonged winter dry spell with the Union Territory recording 79 percent rainfall deficit against the normal precipitation of 144 mm. In February so far, the UT has recorded just 29.8 mm rainfall as per official data. Baramulla has recorded a deficit between 70-79 percent this year.
The dry spell has also taken a toll on Kashmir’s water bodies, with dozens of springs drying up, including one in the 17th-century Mughal Garden in Achabal town, located south of Srinagar.
Meanwhile, several parts of Kashmir valley are already grappling with massive forest fires in the absence of adequate fire fighting measures in place.
