Muzaffarabad, (Azad Kashmir) Pakistan administered Kashmir – A persistent monsoon spell that has lashed Azad Kashmir for the past fortnight has slashed daytime temperatures and draped the region in an unseasonal chill, delighting residents and drawing tourists to its mist-cloaked valleys.
From the capital Muzaffarabad to Rawalakot, Bagh and the Neelum Valley, intermittent yet torrential rain has kept skies overcast since early July. Meteorological data show mercury plunging 6–8 °C below the seasonal average, prompting blankets, shawls and—most importantly—countless cups of steaming tea.
“Summer seems to have surrendered,” laughed Huma Qureshi, a schoolteacher in Muzaffarabad. “Ceiling fans are off, quilts are out and every street-corner kettle is whistling.” Markets report a sharp uptick in sales of soup, pakoras and cardamom-laced kehwa, while roadside vendors struggle to keep up with demand for roasted corn and peanuts.
The deluge has also revitalised the landscape. Hillsides once baked brown now shimmer emerald, streams thunder through narrow gorges, and the air carries the earthy perfume of drenched pine and cedar. Tour operators say hotel occupancy in the upper Neelum Valley has jumped above 80 % as travellers chase cool climes and postcard-perfect views.
Authorities, however, remain on high alert. The State Disaster Management Authority has warned of possible landslides in the upper reaches and flash floods in low-lying areas. “Teams are pre-positioned with machinery and relief goods,” Director Sajjad Qamar told Kashmir Monitor. “We are monitoring river levels around the clock.”
Forecasts suggest more rain over the coming 48–72 hours. Residents have been advised to avoid trekking near avalanche-prone ridges and to report any sign of slope instability to local union councils.
For now, Azad Kashmir’s valleys bask in a rare midsummer coolness—an accidental gift from the monsoon that, at least for a few days, has rewritten the rules of the season.