<p>At least one person was killed and eight others were injured on Friday (May 31) after being hit by large stones tumbling down the hill slopes on the Gangotri National Highway in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, the officials said.</p>

<p>The sudden cascade of rocks and boulders descended near National Highway 108 (NH 108) near Dabrani, Gangotri, catching commuters by surprise. Many vehicles found themselves trapped under the weight of the debris on the Char Dham Yatra route.</p>

<p>As per officials, six of the injured were taken to the Primary Health Centre, Harshil, while the two others injured were admitted to District Hospital, Uttarkashi. The deceased has not yet been identified, the officials said.</p>

<p>Taking to X, Uttarakhand Police posted that after receiving information about the incident, state police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams reached the spot, and a rescue operation was underway.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Vehicles have been stopped for security reasons and will be released after the route is completely safe, the police said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-election-2024/watch-pm-modi-meditates-at-vivekananda-rock-memorial-in-kanyakumari-727346">PM Modi meditates at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari</a></p>

<p>Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also took to X, expressing his sorrow for the plight of those injured, while informing that relief and rescue operations were being carried out rapidly at the spot where the rockfall occurred.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The chief minister&nbsp;wrote,&nbsp;“Relief and rescue work is being done at a fast pace at the spot and the injured have been sent to the nearest health centre after giving them first aid. The concerned officials have been directed to provide proper treatment to the injured and to speed up relief and rescue operations.”</p>

<p>Earlier on May 27, ANI reported that the Uttarakhand Government had implemented comprehensive measures, including traffic and transport enhancements and managing frequent landslides in the region to ensure a safer and more convenient Char Dham Yatra.</p>

<p>The top priority was disaster management of frequent landslides in the region. JCB machines and other heavy equipment were put on standby 24/7, and a dedicated team was placed to monitor high-risk areas to respond rapidly and minimise disruptions.</p>

<h2><strong>CM Inspects&nbsp;Chardham Arrangements</strong></h2>

<p>Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited Rishikesh and conducted a thorough site inspection of the Chardham arrangements.</p>

<p>After the inspection, he held a meeting with the officials and directed them to further strengthen the essential&nbsp;facilities including drinking water, food, sanitation and health arrangements.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Monsoon arrives in India's Kerala two days sooner than expected</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/monsoon-arrives-in-indias-kerala-two-days-sooner-than-expected-727440/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Dhami said, "Our government is working on the ground for a smooth, safe, and convenient Chardham Yatra for the devotees coming to Uttarakhand from different areas."</p>

<p>The chief minister also took stock of all the facilities in the resting place, health centre and travel control room built for the convenience of the devotees. During this, he directed the concerned officials to work in mutual coordination for a systematic journey.</p>

<p>The Char Dham Yatra, which began on May 10 this year, encompasses the sacred Hindu pilgrimage circuit of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


At least one person was killed and eight others were injured on Friday (May 31) after being hit by large stones tumbling down the hill slopes on the Gangotri National Highway in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, the officials said.

At least one person was killed and eight others were injured on Friday (May 31) after being hit by large stones tumbling down the hill slopes on the Gangotri National Highway in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, the officials said. The sudden cascade of rocks and boulders descended near National Highway 108 (NH 108) near Dabrani, Gangotri, catching commuters by surprise. Many vehicles found themselves trapped under the weight of the debris on the Char Dham Yatra route. As per officials, six of the injured were taken to the Primary Health Centre, Harshil, while the two others injured were admitted to District Hospital, Uttarkashi. The deceased has not yet been identified, the officials said. Taking to X, Uttarakhand Police posted that after receiving information about the incident, state police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams reached the spot, and a rescue operation was underway. Vehicles have been stopped for security reasons and will be released after the route is completely safe, the police said. Also Read: PM Modi meditates at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also took to X, expressing his sorrow for the plight of those injured, while informing that relief and rescue operations were being carried out rapidly at the spot where the rockfall occurred. The chief minister wrote, “Relief and rescue work is being done at a fast pace at the spot and the injured have been sent to the nearest health centre after giving them first aid. The concerned officials have been directed to provide proper treatment to the injured and to speed up relief and rescue operations.” Earlier on May 27, ANI reported that the Uttarakhand Government had implemented comprehensive measures, including traffic and transport enhancements and managing frequent landslides in the region to ensure a safer and more convenient Char Dham Yatra. The top priority was disaster management of frequent landslides in the region. JCB machines and other heavy equipment were put on standby 24/7, and a dedicated team was placed to monitor high-risk areas to respond rapidly and minimise disruptions. CM Inspects Chardham Arrangements Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited Rishikesh and conducted a thorough site inspection of the Chardham arrangements. After the inspection, he held a meeting with the officials and directed them to further strengthen the essential facilities including drinking water, food, sanitation and health arrangements. Watch: Monsoon arrives in India's Kerala two days sooner than expected Dhami said, "Our government is working on the ground for a smooth, safe, and convenient Chardham Yatra for the devotees coming to Uttarakhand from different areas." The chief minister also took stock of all the facilities in the resting place, health centre and travel control room built for the convenience of the devotees. During this, he directed the concerned officials to work in mutual coordination for a systematic journey. The Char Dham Yatra, which began on May 10 this year, encompasses the sacred Hindu pilgrimage circuit of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. (With inputs from agencies)

At least 1 killed, 8 injured in major rockslide incident in India's Uttarakhand

<p>The world has come to a halt after the spread of coronavirus, lockdown across the globe has given nature some time to heal. Wildlife has taken over the streets and the air is cleaner and clearer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>People of Saharanpur have witnessed snow-capped mountains of Himalayas. Indian Forest Services (IFS) officer Ramesh Pandey took to Twitter to share the photos of snow peaks of Gangotri visible from a house.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He wrote: "Snow-capped peaks of Himalaya are now visible from Saharanpur! Lockdown and intermittent rains have significantly improved the AQI. These pictures were taken by Dushyant, an Income Tax inspector, from his house at Vasant Vihar colony on Monday evening."</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Snow capped peaks of Himalaya are now visible from Saharnpur !<br />
Lockdown and intermittent rains have significantly improved the AQI. These pictures were taken by Dushyant, an Income Tax inspector, from his house at Vasant Vihar colony on Monday evening. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lockdowneffect?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lockdowneffect</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nature?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nature</a> <a href="https://t.co/1vFfJqr05J">pic.twitter.com/1vFfJqr05J</a></p>
— Ramesh Pandey IFS (@rameshpandeyifs) <a href="https://twitter.com/rameshpandeyifs/status/1255339125206589443?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Another IFS officer Parveen Kaswan, he took to Twitter to share a photo of the peak, he wrote: "When you can see snow peaks from Saharanpur. They say it is rare to see these peaks which are 150-200 km far. I hope now people will appreciate what they were missing earlier."</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">When you can see snow peaks from Saharanpur. They say it is rare to see these peaks which are 150-200 km far. I hope now people will appreciate what they were missing earlier. PC Ashutosh Mishra. <a href="https://t.co/1jeGlK7LZx">pic.twitter.com/1jeGlK7LZx</a></p>
— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParveenKaswan/status/1255356935752355840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Netizens appreciated these photos.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This gives us better idea now of how our ancestors were able to keep sanity &amp; focus on their lives with little resources. They were not blinded by the pollution of modern materialism, they had clear vision to the end purpose of life - sanyas/self realisation. Thank U for sharing.</p>
— Hridesh Agarwal - Stay Indoors (@agarwal_hridesh) <a href="https://twitter.com/agarwal_hridesh/status/1255370514736074753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Saharanpur is not too far from Shivalik hills. Just 60-70 km from Haridwar and Dehradun.</p>
— Ignorant नादान (@Bipin23256912) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bipin23256912/status/1255377918768959488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Another extension we will be seeing these mountains from Delhi.</p>
— Ankur Sharma (@ankuuuurrrrrrr) <a href="https://twitter.com/ankuuuurrrrrrr/status/1255359460253609985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The world has come to a halt after the spread of coronavirus, lockdown across the globe has given nature some time to heal. Wildlife has taken over the streets and the air is cleaner and clearer.

The world has come to a halt after the spread of coronavirus, lockdown across the globe has given nature some time to heal. Wildlife has taken over the streets and the air is cleaner and clearer. People of Saharanpur have witnessed snow-capped mountains of Himalayas. Indian Forest Services (IFS) officer Ramesh Pandey took to Twitter to share the photos of snow peaks of Gangotri visible from a house. He wrote: "Snow-capped peaks of Himalaya are now visible from Saharanpur! Lockdown and intermittent rains have significantly improved the AQI. These pictures were taken by Dushyant, an Income Tax inspector, from his house at Vasant Vihar colony on Monday evening." Snow capped peaks of Himalaya are now visible from Saharnpur ! Lockdown and intermittent rains have significantly improved the AQI. These pictures were taken by Dushyant, an Income Tax inspector, from his house at Vasant Vihar colony on Monday evening. #lockdowneffect #nature pic.twitter.com/1vFfJqr05J — Ramesh Pandey IFS (@rameshpandeyifs) April 29, 2020 × Another IFS officer Parveen Kaswan, he took to Twitter to share a photo of the peak, he wrote: "When you can see snow peaks from Saharanpur. They say it is rare to see these peaks which are 150-200 km far. I hope now people will appreciate what they were missing earlier." When you can see snow peaks from Saharanpur. They say it is rare to see these peaks which are 150-200 km far. I hope now people will appreciate what they were missing earlier. PC Ashutosh Mishra. pic.twitter.com/1jeGlK7LZx — Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) April 29, 2020 × Netizens appreciated these photos. This gives us better idea now of how our ancestors were able to keep sanity & focus on their lives with little resources. They were not blinded by the pollution of modern materialism, they had clear vision to the end purpose of life - sanyas/self realisation. Thank U for sharing. — Hridesh Agarwal - Stay Indoors (@agarwal_hridesh) April 29, 2020 × Saharanpur is not too far from Shivalik hills. Just 60-70 km from Haridwar and Dehradun. — Ignorant नादान (@Bipin23256912) April 29, 2020 × Another extension we will be seeing these mountains from Delhi. — Ankur Sharma (@ankuuuurrrrrrr) April 29, 2020 ×

Gangotri hills visible from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh as AQI drops!

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Environmentalists have long been worried about melting glaciers in the Himalayas. Studies and articles on the matter often border on the extreme. Some seek to reassure people that it is not a big deal, while others paint doomsday scenarios. But while global warming is a reality, available facts and figures are not enough to ascertain exactly how frozen surfaces in the region are melting or what its impact is on the environment, vegetation or animal life.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Himalayan range and its extension in the northwest are home to more than 50,000 glaciers. Only the polar circles have more. Approximately 60,000 square kilometres of ice are stored along the Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalaya mountain ranges. But despite the huge dimensions, these frozen masses do not last for ever and have retreated in the last few decades. Glaciers are fragile. After all, they consist of nothing but ice.</p>

<p>Global warming has led to the Himalayan range witnessing less snowfall, more rains and hotter summers. Glaciers erode and become shorter and thinner every year, a loss that is impossible to recover as long as the mercury continues to rise.</p>

<p>Fieldwork is a major problem here. Many of the glaciers are located in isolated high mountain areas and reaching these places with necessary equipment involves a lot of time and money. In some areas of Afghanistan, it is also a matter of safety. Data are fragmented and it is impossible to have a precise overall picture.</p>

<p>Some glaciers have visibly receded, like the Gangotri, in India, where the Ganges has its headwaters. From 2000 onwards, it has been receding to the tune of 12 metres every year. It has already lost nearly 200 metres of its length.</p>

<p>But not all South Asian glaciers are melting though. The process seems to have been reversed in the Karakoram range, along the border between Pakistan, India and China. The monsoon reaches this region in winter and the precipitation freezes thanks to severe temperatures.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>When it comes to South Asian glaciers, one of the chief factors contributing towards their melting is dust. A part of it comes from forest fires, cooking fires, agricultural and industrial burn wastes.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=When it comes to South Asian glaciers, one of the chief factors contributing towards their melting is dust. A part of it comes from forest fires, cooking fires, agricultural and industrial burn wastes. " target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is not good news though and it does not balance the loss. &quot;It is more of a unique phenomenon. There are very few other places in the world where this is happening,&quot; says Sarah Kapnick, a physical scientist at Princeton University who studies the area closely. &quot;We can create a hypothesis that may be valid for the next hundred years. It is impossible to know what could happen after that. And this does not mean that it is not getting warmer up there. It sounds counterintuitive. But more snow means more precipitation which is another effect of rising temperatures,&quot; the scientist tells WION.</p>

<p>It is almost unanimously recognised that global warming is a human-induced phenomenon, mostly caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases. But when it comes to South Asian glaciers, one of the chief factors contributing towards their melting is dust. A part of it comes from forest fires, cooking fires, agricultural and industrial burn wastes. Particles get deposited on the frozen surface, absorb the sun light, warm up and create holes, pretty much what happens when a firebrand is placed on an ice cube. Through these holes, solar heat gets the chance to penetrate deep in. The melting gathers speed.</p>

<p>It is a classic domino effect example, a chain reaction. More dust means more heat, more heat more holes, more holes more heat.</p>

<p>Most of this dust has natural origins: it comes from the Asian Brown Cloud (ABC), a recurring layer of pollution partially covering South Asian skies.</p>

<p>&quot;Poor quality petrol combustion also contributes to this cloud but it is mainly composed of natural dust coming from Rajasthan and other dry places in India and Pakistan which gets blown by the wind,&quot; says Dipak Gyawali, director of Nepal Water Conservation Foundation (NWCF) and a former Nepalese minister for water resources. &quot;There is not much that we can do about the natural part of it. We can surely work on cutting down on the use of poor quality petrol and coal to reduce the damage,&quot; he adds.</p>

<p>Glaciers are, above all, storage systems. They thicken with winter snowfalls and release water when the summer comes. &quot;Most of the high altitude settlements rely on spring sources for their water. This is true for Nepal. The shrinking of glaciers will not cause them problems. It will mostly affect low altitude areas, reducing the flow of rivers during dry seasons,&quot; the director of NWCF puts the elements into perspective.</p>

<p>Monsoons remain the principal source of fresh water in South Asia but the flows of some of the biggest rivers in the region depend on ice melt. The Indus in Pakistan, for example, relies on glaciers for up to forty per cent of its flow. But a dense network of minor rivers and major ones across the Indo-Gangetic plain mitigates the reduction in ice melt. The network continues to support agriculture and ensures the survival of hundreds of millions of lives.</p>

<p>Rice is the main agricultural product of the region and it is a water-intensive crop. According to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), paddy grows on 60 million hectares of land in South Asia. Accounting for more than a quarter of the global production, Bangladesh and India take the lead. Any change in the rivers&rsquo; flows will have a severe impact.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Glaciers are a hot topic. There is too much hype. For instance, you say that if glaciers melt, Bangladesh will be completely flooded. You immediately grab eyeballs. But it is scientific nonsense.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Glaciers are a hot topic. There is too much hype. For instance, you say that if glaciers melt, Bangladesh will be completely flooded. You immediately grab eyeballs. But it is scientific nonsense." target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sifting through the jungle of articles, videos and infographics on the matter, one encounters contradictory figures. One moment, it seems that South Asian glaciers will disappear in two decades and there will be huge floods followed by terrible droughts. The next moment, one encounters data that points to their good health. This is confusing and undermines the credibility of the scientific community.</p>

<p>&quot;See, glaciers are a hot topic. There is too much hype. For instance, you say that if glaciers melt, Bangladesh will be completely flooded. You immediately grab eyeballs. But it is scientific nonsense. You are saying a wrong thing. Floods occur because of massive monsoon rains and the problem is that no one can ever predict the right amount of precipitation. Water warming is a much bigger problem and nobody is talking about it,&quot; comments Dipak Gyawali.</p>

<p>&quot;It is always difficult to speak about environmental problems with a non-specialist. It is also challenging because what will happen in the future is pretty much uncertain. Climatic conditions change in decades and some of these are natural. As scientists, we are not always good at explaining this to common people,&quot; opines Sarak Kapnick.</p>

<p>A balanced narrative will improve general awareness about the negative effects of global warming. Water, in all its forms, is a basic need of any ecosystem and its preservation is a priority. It is the common interest of the world.</p>

<p>South Asian rivers are also an important source of clean energy. Some countries base their energy provision on hydropower. It powers more than sixty per cent households in Bhutan.</p>

<p>A decline in river flow leads to a decrease of potential energy. In a developing region like South Asia, this may also have political ramifications. It may force countries to further tighten their borders. A run for energy in such a scenario will affect peaceful and constructive coexistence.</p>

<p>But global warming also presents a unique opportunity for South Asian governments to come together to battle the problem. They can coordinate their actions and benefit from each other&rsquo;s respective strengths. Rivers and glaciers are often shared between neighbouring countries and change in one place will affect people in another. Any negative changing will affect all their populations. Pakistan, for instance, can face water and hydropower shortage if Indian glaciers melt too fast. The necessity of a common strategy to preserve water sources may become a way to mend poor diplomatic relations between some South Asian countries. In case they succeed, the region can gain a global leadership role in environmental protection. It is a chance not to be underestimated and a cause not worth neglecting.</p>


The impact of global warming presents South Asian countries with a unique chance to unite

Environmentalists have long been worried about melting glaciers in the Himalayas. Studies and articles on the matter often border on the extreme. Some seek to reassure people that it is not a big deal, while others paint doomsday scenarios. But while global warming is a reality, available facts and figures are not enough to ascertain exactly how frozen surfaces in the region are melting or what its impact is on the environment, vegetation or animal life. The Himalayan range and its extension in the northwest are home to more than 50,000 glaciers. Only the polar circles have more. Approximately 60,000 square kilometres of ice are stored along the Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalaya mountain ranges. But despite the huge dimensions, these frozen masses do not last for ever and have retreated in the last few decades. Glaciers are fragile. After all, they consist of nothing but ice. Global warming has led to the Himalayan range witnessing less snowfall, more rains and hotter summers. Glaciers erode and become shorter and thinner every year, a loss that is impossible to recover as long as the mercury continues to rise. Fieldwork is a major problem here. Many of the glaciers are located in isolated high mountain areas and reaching these places with necessary equipment involves a lot of time and money. In some areas of Afghanistan, it is also a matter of safety. Data are fragmented and it is impossible to have a precise overall picture. Some glaciers have visibly receded, like the Gangotri, in India, where the Ganges has its headwaters. From 2000 onwards, it has been receding to the tune of 12 metres every year. It has already lost nearly 200 metres of its length. But not all South Asian glaciers are melting though. The process seems to have been reversed in the Karakoram range, along the border between Pakistan, India and China. The monsoon reaches this region in winter and the precipitation freezes thanks to severe temperatures. When it comes to South Asian glaciers, one of the chief factors contributing towards their melting is dust. A part of it comes from forest fires, cooking fires, agricultural and industrial burn wastes. × It is not good news though and it does not balance the loss. "It is more of a unique phenomenon. There are very few other places in the world where this is happening," says Sarah Kapnick, a physical scientist at Princeton University who studies the area closely. "We can create a hypothesis that may be valid for the next hundred years. It is impossible to know what could happen after that. And this does not mean that it is not getting warmer up there. It sounds counterintuitive. But more snow means more precipitation which is another effect of rising temperatures," the scientist tells WION. It is almost unanimously recognised that global warming is a human-induced phenomenon, mostly caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases. But when it comes to South Asian glaciers, one of the chief factors contributing towards their melting is dust. A part of it comes from forest fires, cooking fires, agricultural and industrial burn wastes. Particles get deposited on the frozen surface, absorb the sun light, warm up and create holes, pretty much what happens when a firebrand is placed on an ice cube. Through these holes, solar heat gets the chance to penetrate deep in. The melting gathers speed. It is a classic domino effect example, a chain reaction. More dust means more heat, more heat more holes, more holes more heat. Most of this dust has natural origins: it comes from the Asian Brown Cloud (ABC), a recurring layer of pollution partially covering South Asian skies. "Poor quality petrol combustion also contributes to this cloud but it is mainly composed of natural dust coming from Rajasthan and other dry places in India and Pakistan which gets blown by the wind," says Dipak Gyawali, director of Nepal Water Conservation Foundation (NWCF) and a former Nepalese minister for water resources. "There is not much that we can do about the natural part of it. We can surely work on cutting down on the use of poor quality petrol and coal to reduce the damage," he adds. Glaciers are, above all, storage systems. They thicken with winter snowfalls and release water when the summer comes. "Most of the high altitude settlements rely on spring sources for their water. This is true for Nepal. The shrinking of glaciers will not cause them problems. It will mostly affect low altitude areas, reducing the flow of rivers during dry seasons," the director of NWCF puts the elements into perspective. Monsoons remain the principal source of fresh water in South Asia but the flows of some of the biggest rivers in the region depend on ice melt. The Indus in Pakistan, for example, relies on glaciers for up to forty per cent of its flow. But a dense network of minor rivers and major ones across the Indo-Gangetic plain mitigates the reduction in ice melt. The network continues to support agriculture and ensures the survival of hundreds of millions of lives. Rice is the main agricultural product of the region and it is a water-intensive crop. According to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), paddy grows on 60 million hectares of land in South Asia. Accounting for more than a quarter of the global production, Bangladesh and India take the lead. Any change in the rivers’ flows will have a severe impact. Glaciers are a hot topic. There is too much hype. For instance, you say that if glaciers melt, Bangladesh will be completely flooded. You immediately grab eyeballs. But it is scientific nonsense. × Sifting through the jungle of articles, videos and infographics on the matter, one encounters contradictory figures. One moment, it seems that South Asian glaciers will disappear in two decades and there will be huge floods followed by terrible droughts. The next moment, one encounters data that points to their good health. This is confusing and undermines the credibility of the scientific community. "See, glaciers are a hot topic. There is too much hype. For instance, you say that if glaciers melt, Bangladesh will be completely flooded. You immediately grab eyeballs. But it is scientific nonsense. You are saying a wrong thing. Floods occur because of massive monsoon rains and the problem is that no one can ever predict the right amount of precipitation. Water warming is a much bigger problem and nobody is talking about it," comments Dipak Gyawali. "It is always difficult to speak about environmental problems with a non-specialist. It is also challenging because what will happen in the future is pretty much uncertain. Climatic conditions change in decades and some of these are natural. As scientists, we are not always good at explaining this to common people," opines Sarak Kapnick. A balanced narrative will improve general awareness about the negative effects of global warming. Water, in all its forms, is a basic need of any ecosystem and its preservation is a priority. It is the common interest of the world. South Asian rivers are also an important source of clean energy. Some countries base their energy provision on hydropower. It powers more than sixty per cent households in Bhutan. A decline in river flow leads to a decrease of potential energy. In a developing region like South Asia, this may also have political ramifications. It may force countries to further tighten their borders. A run for energy in such a scenario will affect peaceful and constructive coexistence. But global warming also presents a unique opportunity for South Asian governments to come together to battle the problem. They can coordinate their actions and benefit from each other’s respective strengths. Rivers and glaciers are often shared between neighbouring countries and change in one place will affect people in another. Any negative changing will affect all their populations. Pakistan, for instance, can face water and hydropower shortage if Indian glaciers melt too fast. The necessity of a common strategy to preserve water sources may become a way to mend poor diplomatic relations between some South Asian countries. In case they succeed, the region can gain a global leadership role in environmental protection. It is a chance not to be underestimated and a cause not worth neglecting.

Is it bad news for the Himalayan glaciers?

gangotri

Gangotri, News on Gangotri, stories on Gangotri, articles on Gangotri, Gangotri stories at Wion, Gangotri news, Gangotri latest news