Ganga plains in ecological crisis

An alarm bell is tolling. A “snow famine”, or more accurately, recurrent and intensifying snow droughts, is occurring in the Himalayas due to climate change and weakened weather patterns (Western Disturbances). This decline in seasonal snowpack has severe, far-reaching impacts on India’s water security, agriculture, hydropower, and overall ecosystem stability.
The most fertile cradle of Indian civilisation, the Ganga-Yamuna Do-Aba, could be severely hit with water shortage, if blasting and construction activities in the Himalayas is not stopped immediately.
The primary drivers behind the Himalayan snow famine are related to climate change. Human activities in the higher Himalayas beyond Badarinath and other regions during coldest days, not only in India but in the neighbouring Pakistan, Nepal and other areas are also contributing to delayed and scarce snowfalls.
A report on Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) confirms this transformation, reporting a consistent 24 percent decline over the last three years in seasonal snow cover across the region and this is the lowest of the last 23 years, warning of serious implications for downstream water availability.
The study highlights the frequent occurrence of snow droughts and their hotspots across 11 major river basins, including the North-Western India, Amu Darya, Indus, Ganga, Mekong, and Salween river basins, which also experienced a significant decline in snow cover days.
For Indian farms and power grids depend deeply on Himalayan snowmelt, the implications are profound enduring.
The Himalayas function as a natural water tower for the Indian sub-continent. Snow accumulated during winter acts as a slow-release reservoir, feeding rivers such as the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra during the dry pre-monsoon months. This buffering role checks seasonal water variability. It sustains agriculture, hydropower generation and urban water supply downstream.
That system is now under strain.
Why the Snow Is Disappearing
Several interconnected forces are driving this snow drought. Weakened Western Disturbances (WDs) are central. These low-pressure systems historically delivered winter snow and rain to northern India. In recent years, they have become less frequent, weaker and more erratic, resulting in prolonged dry winters across Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Rising temperatures compound the problem. The Himalayan region is warming faster than the global average. Even marginal temperature increases have outsized impacts at high altitudes, shifting precipitation from snow to rain — particularly between 3,000 and 6,000 metres, the critical snow-accumulation zone. Rain runs off quickly instead of being stored, while snow that does fall melts earlier in the season.
Another accelerant is black carbon deposition. Soot from vehicles, biomass burning and industrial activity in the Indo-Gangetic plains settles on snow surfaces, darkening them and increasing heat absorption. This accelerates melting and shortens snow cover duration.
Together, these factors are transforming Himalayan winters from snow-dominated to rain-dominated — a structural shift with cascading consequences.
Threat to Water Security
The most immediate impact is on water availability. Snowmelt is crucial for maintaining river flows during late spring and early summer, when rainfall is minimal and demand peaks. Reduced snow reserves mean lower base flows, intensifying water stress for cities, irrigation systems and ecosystems.
River basins such as the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra — lifelines for hundreds of millions — are increasingly vulnerable.
For urban centres already grappling with groundwater depletion and erratic monsoons, declining Himalayan meltwater removes a vital safety buffer.
Agricultural Uncertainty
Indian agriculture, particularly in the north and northwest, is tightly coupled to Himalayan hydrology. Rabi crops depend on timely meltwater for irrigation. Unseasonal snowfall, sudden rain-on-snow events, or prolonged dry spells can damage standing crops and orchards. Horticulture — apples, almonds and cherries — is vulnerable, as chilling requirements are no longer reliably met.
Over time, this volatility threatens food security, farm incomes and rural livelihoods, adding economic stress to regions already experiencing climate-driven migration.
Fragile Hydropower
India’s Himalayan states have invested heavily in hydropower, viewing it as a clean energy solution. Yet many existing and planned projects in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh depend on predictable spring-summer snowmelt.
Declining and erratic river flows reduce power generation capacity, complicate reservoir operations and increase financial risk. Global parallels are instructive: in 2022, parts of the Alps experienced exceptionally weak snowmelt, contributing to a 25-year low in Alpine hydropower production by mid-summer.
As climate warming accelerates, India’s hydropower strategy faces mounting uncertainty.
Ecosystems and Disaster Risks Escalate
The Himalayan ecosystem is delicate. Reduced snow cover alters soil moisture, vegetation patterns and wildlife habitats. Alpine flora and fauna adapted to cold conditions are increasingly stressed, while invasive species move upslope.
More dangerously, rapid and unpredictable melting raises the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), landslides and flash floods. Rain-on-snow events — increasingly common in warmer winters — amplify runoff and destabilise slopes. Drier winters also heighten the risk of forest fires, a growing concern across Himalayan states.
Scientific evidence confirms rapid climate-driven glacier loss, but the long-term implications for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning remain poorly understood — underscoring the need for coordinated, long-term research.
Tourism Feels the Chill
The economic fallout is already visible in winter tourism hubs like Auli and Gulmarg. Snow-poor winters have slashed visitor numbers, disrupted ski seasons and hurt livelihoods dependent on hotels, guides and transport services.
As snow becomes unreliable, the viability of winter tourism itself is in question, forcing mountain economies to rethink development models built around predictable snowfall.
Global Trends Mirror the Himalayan Crisis
What is unfolding in the Himalayas reflects a global pattern. Studies project that by 2100, snow droughts could become three to four times more common than in the 1980s, with “warm” snow droughts — where precipitation falls as rain — dominating by mid-century.
In 2015, the U.S. West Coast experienced a classic warm snow drought: normal precipitation but record-low snowpack, complicating water management decisions such as those at California’s Oroville Dam. These cases underscore that snow loss, not just rainfall deficits, defines future water risk.
Adapting to a Snow-Scarce Future
Experts agree that adaptation must be multi-layered. Priorities include investing in seasonal water storage, upgrading irrigation efficiency, strengthening real-time snow and hydrological monitoring, and developing cross-sectoral drought management plans and reduced human activities in sensitive ecozones.
Lessons can be drawn from the Alps, where flexible reservoir operations, coordinated planning and nature-based solutions have improved resilience. Integrated water management, community-led adaptation and evidence-based policy will be essential in the Himalayan context.
Ultimately, the Himalayan snow famine is not a distant environmental issue. It is a slow-burn crisis at the heart of India’s water, food and energy systems. Policy changes are must to save the mountains and the globe.