Tauseef Ahmad
SRINAGAR, June 03: Soon after beginning their annual migration towards the higher reaches of Kashmir Valley, thousands of Gujjar and Bakarwal nomads are facing mounting hardships as unseasonal rain, hailstorms, strong winds and sudden temperature fluctuations disrupt traditional migration routes across Jammu and Kashmir.The pastoral communities, who migrate every year with their sheep, goats, horses and cattle from the plains of Jammu to alpine meadows in Kashmir, say increasingly erratic weather is slowing their movement and exposing livestock to dangerous conditions.
Several groups travelling through north Kashmir’s Baramulla district and the Gurez Valley reported being forced to halt their journeys after repeated spells of rain and hail damaged temporary shelters and reduced access to grazing areas. Herders said young animals were particularly vulnerable to the sudden weather changes.
“I have been migrating with my livestock for more than four decades, but the weather has become completely unpredictable,” said Mohammad Yousuf, a Gujjar pastoralist travelling towards Gurez. “One day there is sunshine and the next day hail and rain. Our animals are suffering and the journey is becoming more difficult every year.”
The annual migration is a centuries-old practice and a critical source of livelihood for the region’s nomadic communities. Any delay in reaching high-altitude pastures can affect livestock health, milk production and household income.
“We were forced to stop for two days after heavy rain and hailstorms struck our route,” said Shabir Ahmad, a Bakarwal herder moving through Baramulla. “Several lambs fell sick and we lost valuable time during the migration.”
Local weather officials have recorded repeated spells of unstable weather across Jammu and Kashmir in recent weeks, including rain, hailstorms and gusty winds. Climate researchers say such erratic weather events are becoming more frequent across the Himalayan region as global temperatures rise.
“Earlier we could predict the seasons and plan our movement accordingly,” said Rukhsana Begum, who is migrating with her family and livestock towards summer grazing grounds. “Now storms can arrive at any time, and every journey feels uncertain.”
The disruptions have renewed concerns about the impact of climate change on vulnerable mountain communities whose livelihoods depend on seasonal weather patterns. For Gujjar and Bakarwal families currently making their way towards Kashmir’s high-altitude pastures, the changing climate is no longer a distant threat but a challenge they face on the migration trail every year.
