'Haunting glimpse of Climate Change': Snow vanishes from Uttarakhand's Om Parvat for the first time in history
'Haunting glimpse of Climate Change': Snow vanishes from Uttarakhand's Om Parvat for the first time in history
Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Snow Disappearance
on Om Parvat
For the first time, snow has completely disappeared from Uttarakhand's Om Parvat, a significant change noted last week. This has prompted concern among visitors and locals about the environmental impact.
Possible Causes
Experts suggest that the absence of snow may be due to reduced rainfall, limited snowfall in the upper Himalayan region over the past five years, increased vehicular pollution, and global warming.
Impact on Tourism
Officials warned that prolonged snow absence could affect tourism in the area. However, recent snowfall on Monday night has restored the snow cover on Om Parvat.
Altitude and Naming
Om Parvat is situated at about 14,000 feet in Vyas Valley. The hill’s snow cover typically forms a pattern resembling the Hindi word "Om," which gave the spot its name.
Visitor Reactions
Visitors, including Urmila Sanwal from Gunji village, reported their disappointment at seeing the snowless hill, which previously had a reputation for its persistent snow cover.
Historical Context
Dhan Singh Bisht, who manages the base camp for the Adi Kailash yatra, noted that in his 22 years of service, he had never seen Om Parvat completely snowless before this year. Historically, snow melt rates on the hill used to be between 95-99%.
Expert Analysis
Sunil Nautiyal, Director of the GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, attributed the snow loss to rising temperatures from increased vehicle emissions and global warming. He emphasized the need to assess the impact on sensitive high Himalayan regions.
Tourist Footfall Increase
Krishna Garbiyal, a local resident, linked the increased tourist activity in the region—following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jolingkong last October—to the snow disappearance, noting a tenfold rise in visitors.
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