Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Nov 28: As winter sets in Kashmir, mounds of pruned branches and leaves are set ablaze in orchards to prepare charcoal for the harsh winter ahead. However, behind the glow of these fires lies an increasingly visible crisis: dense, lingering smoke that seeps into homes and lungs, turning the season into a nightmare for those with fragile respiratory health.
Across towns and villages, heavy grey smoke hangs in the air, forming a blanket that irritates eyes, stings throats, and for many, shuts down their ability to breathe.
What was once a necessity for warmth has now become a major contributor to winter pollution, drawing growing concern from medical experts and residents alike.
The fruit-growing belts of Kashmir are particularly affected, where the widespread burning of orchard waste marks the beginning of respiratory distress for hundreds of patients.
“I feel like my chest is tightening every time the smoke enters my home,” Mohammad Akbar Ganaie, a COPD patient from Shopian, said. “For the last few weeks, things have become unbearable. I may have to shift to Jammu until the air becomes breathable again.”
Ganaie’s struggle mirrors the experience of countless others across the Valley who spend the winter months battling breathlessness, persistent cough, and a constant fear of hospitalisation.
Health professionals say the combination of cold weather and seasonal biomass burning pushes many chronic respiratory patients into emergency rooms.
Dr Ghulam Hassan Khan, a specialist in chest diseases, said COPD cases in Jammu and Kashmir have been rising sharply.
“During winter, a major share of emergency admissions includes COPD and asthma patients,” he said.
He further said that smoking remains the number one cause. Quitting smoking is the most effective preventive measure, he added.
The doctor, however, pointed out a worrying trend—people who have never smoked are also developing the disease.
“Poor air quality is becoming a major factor. From biomass fuels and charcoal for kangris to industrial emissions and household pollutants, pollution levels in Kashmir have reached concerning levels. On some days, our air quality has ranked worse than several major metropolitan cities,” he added.
According to doctors, once COPD sets in, it cannot be cured—only managed. “Lifestyle changes like avoiding pollutants, keeping warm, maintaining hydration, exercising regularly, and staying away from allergens can slow the disease’s progression,” Dr Khan said.
