Millions staring at water shortage due to low snow on the Himalayas: Study

Millions of people who are reliant on Himalayan snowmelt are staring at an impending water shortage following historically-low snowfall rates this year. To note, snowmelt contributes about a quarter of the total water flow across 12 major river basins originating from the Himalayan region. 

According to a report released Monday by the Nepal-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), this year's diminished snow accumulation and unpredictable snow levels present a very serious threat of water scarcity. 

Sher Muhammad, one of the report's authors from ICIMOD, emphasized the urgent need for attention from researchers, policymakers, and communities downstream. ICIMOD is an inter-governmental organization encompassing Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. The organization, which has monitored Himalayan snow cover for over two decades, has highlighted 2024 as a year marked by notable anomalies in snowfall patterns.

For approximately 240 million people residing in mountainous areas and an additional 1.65 billion people in the valleys downstream, the Himalayan snow and ice serve as a critical water source, ICIMOD scientists highlighted, adding that while annual variations in snow levels are common, climate change is exacerbating irregular rainfall and altering weather patterns across the region.

The report assessed 'snow persistence' -- the duration snow remains on the ground -- revealing levels nearly 18.5 percent below average this year across the broader Hindu Kush and Himalaya area. This marks the second-lowest snow persistence recorded in the past 22 years, closely trailing the record low set in 2018.

ICIMOD underscored significant shifts in the timing and intensity of river flows due to changing snow patterns. "Snow is crucial for maintaining seasonal water availability," the report emphasized, noting its pivotal role in sustaining river systems.

Miriam Jackson, senior cryosphere specialist at ICIMOD, urged proactive measures by authorities to mitigate potential drought scenarios amid declining snow persistence levels recorded in key river basins like the Ganges, Helmand, Indus, and Brahmaputra.