The stark reality is setting in: Himachal Pradesh's iconic snow-capped mountains are bare, a clear signal of escalating climate stress. Peak winter has arrived, yet the majestic ranges of Chanshal in Shimla and Churdhar in Sirmaur are shockingly devoid of their usual snowy blankets. Even the revered Kinnar Kailash in Kinnaur shows only faint traces, while Chamba's higher reaches are lightly dusted at best. This is a far cry from the norm, where these peaks would be buried under several feet of snow this time of year. Locals are witnessing a phenomenon that defies their long-held understanding of the seasons.
Consider Harish Chauhan, an apple grower from Jubbal. He shares, "I've grown up watching the Chanshal range and have never seen it without snowfall in winter." He emphasizes that these mountains typically remain snow-covered even during summer, with the exception of the monsoon season. Snow usually starts accumulating from October onwards, making this year's absence all the more striking.
For Lalit Mohan, a mountaineer from Kotgarh in Shimla, the snow-clad Kinnar Kailash has been a constant in his life. He recalls, "From my place, a large portion of the range is clearly visible. The snow cover has been thinning over the last few years, but what we are seeing this time is unprecedented. There is hardly any snow, just traces." He adds a sobering observation: "It’s not just snow that is dwindling. While mountaineering, when we revisit places we were at two or three years ago, we find glaciers have shrunk significantly. The situation is alarming."
So, what's behind this dramatic shift? The weather department points to weak western disturbances as the immediate cause. According to a weather official, the Western Himalayan region hasn't experienced strong western disturbances this winter, which are typically responsible for bringing snowfall.
But here's where it gets controversial... Environmentalists offer a more complex explanation, linking the lack of snow to rising greenhouse gas emissions, unsustainable development, and the proliferation of high-energy-consuming industries. Kulbhushan Upmanyu, an environmentalist based in Chamba, highlights that average temperatures in the Himalayas are rising faster than the global average. He points to over-tourism, high vehicular emissions, and large construction projects as major contributing factors. He also notes the irreparable environmental damage caused by large-scale deforestation for wider roads, hydel projects, and mining.
And this is the part most people miss... This situation isn't just about a lack of snow; it's a symptom of a larger environmental crisis. The shrinking glaciers and the changing weather patterns are a warning sign of the impact of climate change.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think the focus should be on immediate weather patterns or the broader environmental issues? Share your perspective in the comments below!
