Bhaderwah, Jammu and Kashmir: Once the backbone of village life in the scenic Bhaderwah valley, traditional water-powered grinding mills, locally known as gharats, are steadily vanishing, as water scarcity tightens its grip on the region.

A prolonged spell of low snowfall and scant rainfall this winter has highly reduced water flow in the Neeru River and its tributaries, the lifeline of these centuries-old mills. As a result, dozens of gharats located in riverine villages have been forced to shut down, cutting off a vital source of livelihood for many families who depend on them.

Mill owners say the dwindling water supply has severely hampered operations. Even those gharats that remain functional can grind only a fraction of what they once did, leading to sharp drops in income. For villagers, the impact is equally stark. With most local mills closed, residents now have to trek long distances across steep terrain to get their grain ground, a task that was once simple and accessible.

Beyond their economic role, gharats hold deep cultural and historical importance in Bhaderwah. Constructed using locally available natural materials and powered by glacial streams, these mills are a living example of indigenous engineering and sustainable practices passed down through generations.

Villagers hope the current dry spell does not become the new normal. However, with climate change and local environmental factors increasingly affecting snowfall patterns, fears are growing that these traditional mills may soon disappear altogether.