SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir

India has postponed its national winter games, originally scheduled for later this month at the Gulmarg ski resort in Indian-administered Kashmir, citing a lack of snow.

Winters in the region are marked by heavy snowfall and rainfall, particularly in mountainous areas like Gulmarg. However, this year’s scarcity has drastically reduced the water flow in Verinag Spring, the primary source of the region’s largest river, the Jhelum.

The Kashmir Sports Council said it will reassess the conditions once snowfall occurs and provide an update on new dates for the games. Gulmarg's slopes usually receive seven to eight feet of snow during winter and serve as a major winter tourism attraction.

More than 300 athletes were expected to compete in the event, originally set for Feb. 22-25. Last year, around 600 athletes participated in Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, snow mountaineering, and snowboarding.

The number of foreign skiers visiting Gulmarg remains low. The rise of an anti-India insurgency in the 1990s led many countries to issue travel advisories against visiting the region. However, despite these warnings, some foreign skiers still travel to Gulmarg.

Last year, a Russian skier died in an avalanche, while six others were rescued by army and civilian teams.

Gulmarg is being developed for larger sporting events.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has begun the process of securing international certification for its slopes, with the long-term goal of hosting the Asian Games and potentially the Olympics, leveraging the region’s unique and highly desirable snow conditions.