Snow persistence in Hindu Kush hits 23-year low, South Asia’s water security at risk: Report

NOW persistence -- or snow that usually stays on the ground between November and March -- was 23.6 per cent below normal levels in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region this year, a record low in the last 23 years, according to a new report.

- 

This marks the third consecutive year of below-normal seasonal snow across the region, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), an intergovernmental body, said in the 2025 HKH Snow Update report published on Sunday.

Snow that typically remains on the ground during winter months has been melting faster or not falling in expected amounts. This snowmelt is a crucial water source for rivers, especially during the dry season.

The sharp drop in snow levels across the region could seriously affect water supply to nearly two billion people in India and neighbouring countries.

This marks the third consecutive year of below-normal seasonal snow across the region. The sharp drop in snow levels across the region could seriously affect water supply to nearly two billion people in India and neighbouring countries.

ICIMOD's Director General PemaGyamtsho said, "Carbon emissions have already locked in an irreversible course of recurrent snow anomalies in the HKH."