Srinagar, Aug 26 (KNS): Union Minister Chiranjeevi Rijuji on Monday described the unusual August snowfall in Ladakh as a rare weather phenomenon, calling it the “first such occurrence” in living memory.
Speaking to Kashmir News Service (KNS) on sidelines of a summer festival in Ladakh, the Union Minister said the heavy snow disrupted large parts of the celebrations, with roads blocked and several areas cut off. “We could not cover the entire festival because of the snowfall. In North India, it was raining and snowing a lot, but for the first time I have seen it snow this much in August.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelEven the local villagers said they had never witnessed such weather this month,” he said.
Calling Ladakh a “prime tourist destination,” Rijuji added that the unexpected weather had surprised both residents and visitors.
The Minister underlined the need to adapt tourism planning to such extreme conditions, which are increasingly being reported across the Himalayan region.
The snowfall, which coincided with the summer festival, has triggered discussions on climate shifts in Ladakh, a region known more for its arid landscape than snow in peak summer.(KNS)