News

Warming climate, pollution and unplanned growth push Kashmir’s lakes toward disappearance

Temple Daily Telegram · last updated

SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Every morning, long, narrow wooden boats called shikaras move elegantly across expansive Dal Lake in a postcard-perfect scene framed by the Himalayan mountains.

Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

kAmqFE 2== :D ?@E A6C764E :? @?6 @7 $@FE9 pD:2’D 36DE\<?@H? =2<6D] !@==FE:@? 7C@> =@42= 3F:=5:?8D[ :?G2D:G6 A=2?E DA64:6D E92E E9C62E6? 3:@5:G6CD:EJ 2?5 564=:?:?8 H2E6C =6G6=D[ :? A2CE 5F6 E@ 4=:>2E6\5C:G6? 962E[ 2C6 E9C62E6?:?8 E96 =@?8\E6C> 6I:DE6?46 @7 s2= {2<6 2?5 9F?5C65D @7 @E96C =2<6D :? x?5:2?\4@?EC@==65 z2D9>:C]k^Am

kAmxE E2<6D 4@?DE2?E 677@CE 3J H@C<6CD 6>A=@J65 3J E96 =@42= 8@G6C?>6?E E@ <66A s2= {2<6VD H665D 2E 32J[ 2?5 E96J >FDE E2<6 AC642FE:@?D E@ 2G@:5 D<:? :CC:E2E:@? 7C@> E96 A@==FE65 H2E6C] *6E :E 4@F=5 36 H@CD6 7@C E96 =2<6[ H9:49 :D =@42E65 :? z2D9>:CVD >@DE A@AF=@FD 4:EJ[ $C:?282C] xEVD @?6 @7 E96 76H =2<6D :? E96 C68:@? E@ C646:G6 DFDE2:?65 C6DE@C2E:@? H@C<]k^Am

kAm“(6 2C6 27C2:5 E@ E@F49 E96 H2E6C H:E9 32C6 92?5D] (96?6G6C H6 ?665 E@ 4=62? D@>6E9:?8 3J 92?5[ H6 H62C 8=@G6D[ 3642FD6 H:E9@FE E96> @FC 92?5D BF:4<=J 56G6=@A 2==6C8:6D[” v9F=2> #2D@@=[ 2 H665 4=62?6C 6>A=@J65 3J E96 =@42= 8@G6C?>6?E[ D2:5 @? 2 C646?E 27E6C?@@?]k^Am

kAm#2D@@= D2:5 E92E D@>6E:>6D :E 766=D :>A@DD:3=6 E@ <66A E96 =2<6 4=62?]k^Am

kAm“$6H286 5C2:?D 7=@H 5:C64E=J :?E@ E96 =2<6[ 2?5 H2E6C DEC62>D 4@>:?8 7C@> E96 >@F?E2:?D 2C6 3C:?8:?8 H2DE6 DF49 2D 5:2A6CD 2?5 @E96C 82C3286[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmp 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 4=:>2E6\5C:G6? 492?86D[ A@==FE:@? 2?5 F?A=2??65 56G6=@A>6?E :D 2446=6C2E:?8 2 564=:?6 :? x?5:2? =2<6D[ H:E9 4@?D6BF6?46D C:AA=:?8 7C@> 7C28:=6 64@DJDE6>D E@ 7:D9:?8 4@>>F?:E:6D 2?5 E96 E@FC:D> 64@?@>J]k^Am

kAmp? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^428]8@G]:?^FA=@25D^5@H?=@2502F5:E0C6A@CE^a_ad^#6A@CE\}@\_c\{2<6D\u:?2=\t?8=:D9\yTae2>ATbqz\\a_``\a_ad\D:8?65\_eh4234ee`5`eef]bda__dc_]A57Qmx?5:2? 8@G6C?>6?E C6A@CEk^2m =2DE J62C 7@F?5 E92E @7 E96 C68:@?’D ehf ?2EFC2= =2<6D[ b`d 92G6 5:D2AA62C65 2?5 a_b 92G6 D9CF?< D:?46 `hef] wF?5C65D C64@C565 :? 62C=:6C 564256D 92G6 366? C65F465 E@ D92==@H >2CD96D[ D62D@?2= H6E=2?5D @C[ :? D@>6 42D6D[ C6A=2465 3J 72C>=2?5 2?5 @E96C 56G6=@A>6?E]k^Am

k9amw@>6D 2?5 72C>D 6?4C@249 FA@? =2<6Dk^9am

kAm{2<6D :? z2D9>:C 92G6 2=H2JD 366? 46?E6CD @7 24E:G:EJ[ :?4=F5:?8 s2= {2<6’D 72>@FD 7=@2E:?8 >2C<6ED H96C6 =@42=D D6== 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> G686E23=6D E@ D@FG6?:CD] w@H6G6C[ C646?E 564256D 92G6 D66? E96 =2<6D’ 3@F?52C:6D D9C:?< 5F6 E@ F?AC65:4E23=6 C2:?72==[ :?4C62D65 D65:>6?E 7C@> C:G6CD 2?5 6?4C@249>6?E 3J 72C>=2?5 2?5 9@FD6D] $>2== :D=2?5D @7 72C>=2?5 @C =@?8 H@@56? 3C:586D =625:?8 E@ :==682= 9@>6D 2C6 364@>:?8 2? :?4C62D:?8=J 4@>>@? D:89E]k^Am

kAmu2C>=2?5 2?5 9@>6D 4C66A:?8 :?E@ H92E H2D @?46 =2<6 =2?5 :D 2AA2C6?E :? 2? 26C:2= G:6H @7 s2= {2<6] r2EE=6 8C2K6 7C66=J @? ?6H=J 7@C>65 72C>=2?5 6G6? 2D E96 EC25:E:@?2= 7:D96CD ECJ E@ >2<6 E96:C 52:=J BF@E2 ?62C3J]k^Am

kAm&?EC62E65 D6H286 7=@H:?8 :?E@ E96 =2<6D C6DF=ED :? E96 8C@HE9 @7 H665D[ H9:49 7665 @77 ?:EC@86?[ A9@DA9@C@FD 2?5 @E96C ?FEC:6?ED :? E96 H2DE6] !=2DE:4D 2?5 @E96C 82C3286 5:CEJ E96 =2<6] s@K6?D @7 H665 4=62?6CD ECJ E@ 4=62C s2= {2<6 6G6CJ 52J[ 2?5 D>2== >@F?5D @7 4=62C65 H665D 42? 36 D66? 2E G2C:@FD DA@ED 24C@DD E96 =2<6] tI42G2E@CD 2?5 @E96C 962GJ >249:?6CJ 2C6 2=D@ FD65 E@ AF== H665D 2?5 82C3286 7C@> E96 =2<6]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 24<?@H=658:?8 E92E >@C6 7F?5D 2?5 H@C< 2C6 ?66565[ =@42= 8@G6C?>6?E @77:4:2=D D2:5 E96J 2C6 ECJ:?8 E96:C 36DE] p 8@G6C?>6?E\CF? =2<6 2FE9@C:EJ DE2CE65 :? `hhf :?4=F56D 4:G:= 6?8:?66CD[ D4:6?E:DED[ 7@C6DE @77:4:2=D 2?5 =@42= A@=:46 @77:4:2=D]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 >@C6 E92? fdT @7 $C:?282C’D A@AF=2E:@? :D 4@??64E65 E@ D6H286 EC62E>6?E DJDE6>D[ D6H286 7C@> E96 F?4@??64E65 9@FD6D :D 2 >2;@C 4@?EC:3FE@C E@ =2<6 A@==FE:@?[ D2:5 |FK2>:= p9>25 #27:BF:[ DFA6C:?E6?5:?8 6?8:?66C 7@C z2D9>:C’D {2<6 r@?D6CG2E:@? 2?5 |2?286>6?E pFE9@C:EJ]k^Am

k9amr=:>2E6 492?86 H@CD6?D =2<6 56A=6E:@?k^9am

kAm$@>6 @7 E96 H@C=5’D H2C>6DE J62CD 92G6 >62?E E92E E96 w:>2=2J2? C68:@? :D H2C>:?8 72DE6C E92? E96 8=@32= 2G6C286] t2C=:6C D?@H>6=E[ C65F465 D?@H72== 2?5 >@C6 :?E6?D6 C2:?72== 6G6?ED 2C6 5:DCFAE:?8 E96 E:>:?8 2?5 G@=F>6 @7 H2E6C E92E 7665D C:G6CD 2?5 =2<6D]k^Am

kAm$96C |F92>>25[ 2 8=24:@=@8:DE H:E9 E96 z2E9>2?5F\9625BF2CE6C65 x?E6C?2E:@?2= r6?EC6 7@C x?E68C2E65 |@F?E2:? s6G6=@A>6?E[ D2:5 E96 D9:7E:?8[ F?AC65:4E23=6 A2EE6C?D >62? =2<6D ?@H 7246 A6C:@5D @7 DF556? :?7=@H 7@==@H65 3J AC@=@?865 DEC6DD 5FC:?8 5C:6C >@?E9D]k^Am

kAm%96 >6=E:?8 @7 E96 C68:@?VD 8=24:6CD 92D 2=D@ :?4C62D65 E96 2>@F?E @7 D65:>6?E 42CC:65 5@H?DEC62> :?E@ E96 =2<6D] (9:=6 E96 >6=E:?8 @7 8=24:6CD 42? DAFC 2? :?:E:2= 3@@DE :? H2E6C 7=@H[ @G6C E:>6 :E H:== C65F46 E96 ?2EFC2= H2E6C DE@C286 E92E DFDE2:?D C:G6CD 2?5 =2<6D 5FC:?8 5CJ A6C:@5D[ 6IA6CED D2:5]k^Am

kAmr=:>2E6 492?86 92D 366? 56G2DE2E:?8 7@C z2D9>:C[ D2:5 xC72? #2D9:5[ 2? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= D4:6?E:DE 2E E96 $C:?282C\32D65 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 z2D9>:C] “xE 92D :>A24E65 6G6CJ D64E@C @7 @FC 64@?@>J[” 96 D2:5] #2D9:5 D2:5 9J5C@A@H6C\86?6C2E:?8 42A24:EJ[ E@FC:D> 2?5 9:89=J G2=F65 2AA=6 2?5 D277C@? 72C>D 92G6 2== 366? 9:E 3J 6CC2E:4[ 6IEC6>6 H62E96C :? C646?E J62CD]k^Am

k9amu:D9:?8 4@>>F?:E:6D 766= E96 3CF?Ek^9am

kAmu:D96CD 2E (F=2C {2<6[ 23@FE ed <:=@>6E6CD Wc_ >:=6DX ?@CE9H6DE @7 $C:?282C[ D2:5 E96 =2<6 92D 364@>6 D92==@H6C[ :ED DFC7246 7C28>6?E65 3J ?6H A2E496D @7 G686E2E:@?] !2CED @7 :ED 42E49>6?E 2C62 92G6 366? E2<6? @G6C 3J EC66 A=2?E2E:@?D] }2G:82E:@? 92D 364@>6 92C56C[ 2?5 76H6C 7:D9 C6>2:?]k^Am

kAmp35F= #2D9665[ 2 cd\J62C\@=5 7:D96C>2?[ D2:5 96 FD65 E@ 62C? 2C@F?5 `[___ CFA66D WS“X 2 52J] }@H :EVD @?=J `__ E@ a__ CFA66D WS` E@ SaX 7@C 2? 6?E:C6 ?:89E @7 7:D9:?8]k^Am

kAm“%96C6 2C6 2 =@E @7 492?86D D:?46 >J 49:=59@@5[” D2:5 #2D9665]k^Am

kAmpD :D E96 42D6 H:E9 >2?J @E96C =2<6D :? z2D9>:C[ 28C:4F=EFC2= 2?5 C6D:56?E:2= 56G6=@A>6?E 92D 6?4C@24965 @? E96 =2<6[ H9:=6 F?EC62E65 D6H286 2?5 72C> CF?@77 92G6 9FCE :ED H2E6C BF2=:EJ] x?5665[ E96 DFC7246 :? D6G6C2= 2C62D :D 2 8C66? 8F?<] %96 >@DE C646?E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^CD:D]C2>D2C]@C8^C:D^ce`n008@2H2J0492==6?86lC6D@FC46\=@25U2>Aj008@2H2J0:5l5352ed4agd6f6364d__ahgb5hfaebfddU2>Aj008@2H2J0C676C6Cl9EEADTbpTauTauCD:D]C2>D2C]@C8TauQm56E2:=65 DEF5Jk^2m @7 (F=2C {2<6[ 4@?5F4E65 3J E96 4@?D6CG2E:@? 8C@FA (6E=2?5D x?E6C?2E:@?2= :? a__f[ 7@F?5 E92E E96 =2<6 925 D9CF?< 3J cdT @G6C E96 AC6465:?8 46?EFCJ] %96 C6A@CE 2=D@ 6>A92D:K65 E92E E96 568C252E:@? @7 E96 =2<6 :?4C62D6D 7=@@5 C:D<D :? E96 z2D9>:C G2==6J 3642FD6 :E H2D EC25:E:@?2==J E96 3:886DE 3F776C 7@C @G6C7=@HD 7C@> E96 y96=F> #:G6C]k^Am

kAm|2?J 7:D96CD 2E (F=2C {2<6 D2:5 E96J 5@?VE 36=:6G6 7FEFC6 86?6C2E:@?D H:== 36 23=6 E@ =:G6 @77 7:D9:?8]k^Am

kAmq2D9:C p9>65[ 2 dd\J62C\@=5 H9@ 92D 7:D965 :? E96 =2<6 7@C 564256D[ D2:5 :? E96 A2DE 2 J@F?8 A6CD@? H:E9 ?@ 7:D9:?8 6IA6C:6?46 4@F=5 C6EFC? 9@>6 H:E9 c <:=@8C2>D W?62C=J h A@F?5DX @7 7:D9]k^Am

kAm“}@H 6G6? 2 D<:==65 7:D96C>2? 4@>6D 9@>6 H:E9 ?@ >@C6 E92? ` <:=@8C2> Wa]a A@F?5DX[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

k9C ^m

kAmpC2DF C6A@CE65 7C@> q6?82=FCF[ x?5:2[ 2?5 42? 36 7@==@H65 @? ) 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^EH:EE6C]4@>^D:3:`abQmoD:3:`abk^2m] u@==@H s2C *2D:? @? x?DE28C2> 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]:?DE28C2>]4@>^52CJ2D:?2A^n9=l6?Qmo52CJ2D:?2Ak^2mk^Am

k9C ^m

kAm%96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD’ 4=:>2E6 2?5 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 4@G6C286 C646:G6D 7:?2?4:2= DFAA@CE 7C@> >F=E:A=6 AC:G2E6 7@F?52E:@?D] p! :D D@=6=J C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 2== 4@?E6?E] u:?5 p!’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2A]@C8^23@FE^DE2?52C5D\7@C\H@C<:?8\H:E9\@FED:56\8C@FAD^QmDE2?52C5Dk^2m 7@C H@C<:?8 H:E9 A9:=2?E9C@A:6D[ 2 =:DE @7 DFAA@CE6CD 2?5 7F?565 4@G6C286 2C62D 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2A]@C8^5:D4@G6C^$FAA@CE:?8\p!Qmp!]@C8k^2m]k^Am

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.