Srinagar, July 9 -- The valley, once known for its soft sunlight and cool mornings, is now facing temperatures that regularly touch 35 to 37 degrees Celsius.

For a region that rarely crossed 30 degrees even in peak July, this heat feels foreign and fatal.

In response, the Jammu and Kashmir School Education Department moved school timings earlier: 7:30 AM for urban areas, 8:00 AM for rural ones.

The decision has stirred concern among parents, who say children are losing sleep and structure. But this shift is rooted in science, not whim. And in today's climate, it may be one of the most sensible decisions the department has taken in years.

Kashmir's rising heat isn't a passing phase. According to the Indian Meteorological Department, th...