SRINAGAR: Sonam Lotus, the widely respected meteorologist who once served as Kashmir’s most trusted voice on weather, is mourning the loss of his mother, Tsering Dolma, who passed away peacefully at her residence in Shara village of Leh district on June 28. She was 80.
Tsering Dolma had been battling stomach cancer since April this year. Despite all medical efforts, her condition deteriorated, and she succumbed to the illness, surrounded by family, Lotus told Kashmir Life on the phone.
A deeply spiritual woman, Tsering Dolma is remembered for her resilience and her quiet sacrifices. Those close to the family say she gave up worldly comforts to ensure the best possible education and upbringing for her children. She is survived by four sons and two daughters.
Sonam Lotus, currently the Director of the Meteorological Centre in Leh, served in Srinagar for over a decade, where he became a household name for his precise weather forecasts. His uncanny accuracy earned him affectionate titles in the Valley such as “Peer Lotus” and “Saint Lotus”. His updates were so widely trusted that wedding dates and travel plans would often be scheduled only after consulting his forecasts.
Lotus’s tenure in Kashmir coincided with a growing public interest in weather, and he rose to prominence for being both accessible and consistently correct. In October 2023, he was transferred to his native Ladakh, where he continues to head the meteorological operations.
Messages of condolence have poured in from across the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, with many recalling the humility and dedication of both the son and his late mother.
