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CAG: 74% of Kashmir's Lakes Are Disappearing

A boatman collects garbage and plastic waste from the waters of Dal Lake in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 11, 2026. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India reports that nearly 74 percent of Kashmir's lakes have either vanished or are shrinking, with 518 out of 697 water bodies affected. This includes 315 that have disappeared and 203 that have reduced in size, resulting in a loss of 2,851 hectares since 1967 due to factors such as climate change and encroachments. (Photo by Firdous Nazir/NurPhoto)

Photo ID	#13560862
Date Taken	10 April 2026
Location	N/A
Photographer	Firdous Nazir/NurPhoto
Category	Environmental Issue
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Firdous Nazir/NurPhoto

boatman garbage plastic waste Dal Lake Srinagar Jammu and Kashmir April 11 2026 Comptroller and Auditor General of India red alert alarming condition Kashmir’s lakes vanished shrinking water bodies affected disappeared reduced in size massive loss hectares 1967 climate change encroachments Firdous Nazir NurPhoto environmental degradation water pollution conservation lake preservation ecological impact sustainability habitat loss ecosystem water management.