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Snow Persistence in Himalayas at Two-Decade Low

  • 23 Apr 2025

In April 2025, a report by ICIMOD revealed that snow persistence across the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) has dropped to a 23-year low, severely impacting the Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra river basins and endangering the water security of nearly two billion people.

Key Points

  • Sharp Decline in Snow Persistence: Snow cover across the HKH dropped to 23.6%, marking the third consecutive year of below-par snow levels.
  • Critical Basin Impact:
    • Ganga basin snow persistence fell 24.1% below normal — the lowest in 23 years.
    • Indus basin declined 24.5% below normal from a 2020 high.
    • All three major rivers — Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra — heavily rely on HKH snowmelt.
  • Importance of Snowmelt: About 25% of total river runoff in the HKH is from snowmelt, essential for agriculture, hydropower, and ecosystem services, especially during early summer.