Water shortage risk up as snow in Himalayas at 23-year record low

The Ganga and Brahmaputra basins have experienced a record low in snow persistence—the fraction of time snow is on the ground after snowfall—over the past 23 years, raising alarms about an impending water crisis that could affect over 650 million people.

- Jitendra Choubey @New Delhi

This decline consistently observed for three consecutive years. Experts attribute it to climate change.

Seasonal snowmelt is crucial for regional and local water availability. It contributes around 23% of annual river flow, especially in the early summer, and nourishes rivers for agriculture, hydropower, and several ecosystem services.