On this Special Report, Muzaffar Ahmad Ashrafani reports from the freezing landscape of Dras, known as the second coldest inhabited place on earth. Standing in a fast-flowing river, Ashrafani notes, ‘The current temperature here is minus 16 degree centigrade which declined during the night to minus 25.’ The report highlights how life comes to a standstill in these harsh conditions, with rivers beginning to freeze under snow cover. Ashrafani points out a concerning shift in weather patterns, observing that December was unusually warm and that the Himalayan region is witnessing significantly less snowfall than in previous years. He attributes these changes to the broader impact of global warming, noting that while the cold has returned in January, the traditional weather cycles of the region are being disrupted. The report emphasizes the importance of these water bodies as lifelines for populations across the borders in both India and Pakistan during the summer months.