Shopian’s river Snagloo chokes under garbage, rotting apples

Shopian, Nov 9: Once celebrated for its crystal-clear waters and scenic beauty, the River Snagloo in south Kashmir’s Shopian district is now gasping for life, choked by heaps of garbage and decaying apples dumped along its course.

Locals say the river, which flows through the heart of the town, has turned into an open dumping site this autumn as fruit growers struggling with spoiled produce discarded large quantities of rotten apples directly into the water.

“The river was once so clean that people believed its water had healing properties. Today, it’s filled with filth and the stench of rotting fruit,” said Basharat Ahmad, a resident.

Residents warn that the continued dumping of waste could severely affect the town’s drainage and groundwater systems. “The waste is blocking the natural