The Kashmir Valley is a globally renowned winter tourist destination due to its ski resorts and mountains. However, the region is currently experiencing an exceptional drought, with a 79% rainfall shortfall from December 2023 to the first week of January, and no snowfall. Meteorological experts associate the absence of rain and snow with El Nino, a natural climate event defined by anomalous warming of Pacific Ocean waters. In the future, scientists warn that the valley may see more regular and extended droughts, which are markers of climate change and might lead to water scarcity and a potential food catastrophe in the region. In addition to damage to tourism, there have been impacts on agriculture, harming, for example, saffron producers.
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