SRINAGAR, JAN 08: Mohammad Amir, a college student, engages in winter sports such as skiing at the scenic Gulmarg in Kashmir from December 15 to March 15 every year. Unfortunately, this season, he finds himself at home, unable to participate in his favourite activity due to the absence of sufficient snowfall and buildup at the renowned ski resort.
“For the past eight years, I have enjoyed snow skiing in Gulmarg. However, this winter is the first time I find myself at home due to the limited snowfall. Skiing events can only take place with a minimum of 2 feet of snow accumulation,” Aamir, a 20-year resident of Hyderpora said.
Insufficient snowfall at Gulmarg Ski Resort this season has adversely affected major skiing events. Normally bustling with activity from December 15 to March, the resort’s slopes currently have only a few inches of snow, rendering skiing impossible. This lack of accumulation has disappointed hundreds of winter sports enthusiasts and tourists who typically visit from various countries for winter games.
Naresh Chopra, a resident of Mumbai Maharashtra, came with his son and wife to Srinagar on January 4. Since then they have been waiting for the snow so his son could learn how to ski and they enjoy snow at Gulmarg.
At an elevation of 3950 metres, Gulmarg is the world’s third-highest Ski resort and is known around the world for its powdery snow runs. Lakhs of tourists visit Gulmarg, especially during winter months.
The seasonal skiing courses of almost all the departments, Institutes, colleges and schools have been affected by the lack of snow on the slopes.
J&K’s Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS), which has been conducting skiing courses for more than four decades, are yet to start its courses and is waiting for the snowfall.
J&K’s Tourism Department is yet to start winter events at the Gulmarg due to a lack of snowfall. “To lure tourists to Gulmarg, we are scheduled to organize winter games including skiing, snow rugby, snow baseball, and snowshoe running. But so far we could not organize these events due to lack of snow,” said a senior official of J&K’s Tourism Department.
