Umaisar Gull Ganie
Anantnag, Jun 23: With temperatures soaring to unprecedented levels, Kashmiris — long accustomed to mild and temperate summers — are now flocking to natural springs, streams, and waterfalls in search of relief.
The valley, known for its pleasant climate, is reeling under an unusual and prolonged heatwave that has disrupted daily life and left locals stunned.
Residents are heading to popular spots where they can be seen bathing, playing, or simply sitting in the cold waters for hours.
“We don’t have air conditioning in our homes. This is our only option. Even fans are useless during the peak afternoon heat. I don’t remember it ever being this hot in June,” Shahid Lone, a 22-year-old student said.
Bashir Ahmad Wani, a 65-year-old resident of Anantnag, sat by a spring in Achabal with his feet in the water. “We used to see this kind of heat only in parts of Jammu. Now, even here in the mountains, it is unbearable. The only way to cool down is to come to these natural springs,” he said.
Abdul Salam Wani, a local Auqaf head, was at the bank of the famous Panzath Spring — known for its 500 bubbling springs and located just a kilometre from the Qazigund highway. He described the current heatwave as “unbearable”.
“Every day, hundreds of youth come here to bathe and seek relief. The water here is colder than any other spring in Anantnag. We have been urging authorities for years to put Panzath on the tourism map like Verinag and Kokernag, but our appeals have fallen on deaf ears,” he said.
Lateef Ahmad Shah, a resident of Qazigund, said, “Our town, which is the gateway to Kashmir, has recorded extreme weather this year. Each year we see fluctuations, but this time it feels like Qazigund is on fire.”
Shah added that to escape the heatwave, youth are bathing in waterfalls, streams, and springs. “In our village (Panzath), hundreds of youngsters travel several kilometres every day just to bathe and take photographs,” he said.
