No snow on the world-famous Om Parvat, though a 4-foot snow layer is expected in January

Impact of human intervention in highlands and global climate change

Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand) – The Himalayas are turning black due to lack of rain and snowfall this year. Panchachuli, Hansling and the world-famous Om Parvat in the District used to be covered with a thick layer of snow in winter. In the last few years, the snow has almost disappeared there. Even though half of January has passed, there has still been no snowfall. At Gunji in the District, which should have had at least 4 feet of snow at this time, dust is flying. Locals say that this change has been happening rapidly in the last 5-6 years.

1. On the one hand, weather experts say that the reason for the lack of rain and snowfall is the inactivation of the Western Disturbance.

2. On the other hand, environmental activist Padma Shri Basanti Didi said that forests have been cut down in an arbitrary manner. Development works are going on indiscriminately. Thousands of people have been traveling to and from the high Himalayan region. For environmental balance, human intervention in the forests and the high Himalayas will have to be minimized.

3. Tej Singh, a resident of Gunji, said that 5-6 years ago, snowfall used to start in November. At this time, there should have been at least 2 feet of snow in Gunji; but there is dust flying there. There is no snow even in the last village called Kuti. The situation is similar in the villages of Darma valley of Dharchula. There has been a big change in the weather in the last one to two decades.

The importance of Om Parvat for Hindus

Om Parvat is located on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route. Devotees who come to Adi Kailash also visit Om Parvat. It is 5,900 metres high. Om Parvat can be seen from Nabhidhang, which is at an altitude of 3,987 metres on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route.