Millions of people who rely on melting Himalayan snow for their water supply face a “very serious” risk of shortages this year due to falling snowfall, scientists warned on Monday .
In this region, snowmelt feeds about a quarter of the total flow of 12 major river basins that originate at higher altitudes, according to the report.
“This is a wake-up call for researchers, policy makers and communities [vivant] downstream,” said report author Sher Muhammad of the Nepal-based International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).
“Less snow accumulation and fluctuating snow levels significantly increase the risk of water shortages, particularly this year,” he stressed.
According to the organization, the snow and ice of the Himalayas provide an essential source of water for the 240 million people living in mountainous regions and the other 1.65 billion people living in valleys in several countries.
The report measured the time snow remains on the ground. This year, levels have fallen by almost a fifth of normal across the entire Hindu Kush region and the Hindu Kush mountain range in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the Himalayas. .
“This year’s snow persistence (18.5% below normal) is the second lowest in the last 22 years, just behind the record of 19% set in 2018,” Mr. Muhammad told the AFP.
Besides Nepal, ICIMOD’s members include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Pakistan.
According to this organization, which has monitored snowfall in the region for more than 20 years, 2024 is unusual.
The Ganges basin, which runs through India, experienced the “lowest snow persistence” ever recorded by Icimod, 17% less than average.
Afghanistan’s Helmand River basin recorded its second lowest snow persistence levels, standing 32% below normal.
The Indus basin fell 23% below normal, while the Brahmaputra basin, which reaches Bangladesh, recorded “notably below normal” snow persistence at 15%.