Srinagar, April 21 — Seasonal snow cover in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) has dropped to its lowest level in 23 years, falling 23.6 per cent below normal between November and March, according to the 2025 HKH Snow report by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).
This marks the third straight year of below-normal snowfall across the region, with scientists warning of severe implications for nearly two billion people who rely on snow-fed rivers for drinking water, irrigation, and hydropower.
“Carbon emissions have already locked in an irreversible course of recurrent snow anomalies in the HKH,” said ICIMOD Director-General Pema Gyamtsho, calling for science-backed policies and stronger transboundary water cooperation.
Sher Muhammad, the lead expert for the report, termed the trend “alarming,” urging region-specific strategies to address shrinking snow resources, especially where meltwater is a major contributor to river flow.
The Ganges basin in India recorded its lowest snow persistence in over two decades, down 24.1 per cent. In the Brahmaputra basin, the deficit stood at 27.9 per cent. Both are critical water sources for agriculture and hydropower in the subcontinent. The Indus basin, shared by India and Pakistan in Kashmir, saw a 16 per cent decline.
The Mekong and Salween basins, which fall partly in China and Southeast Asia, saw the sharpest declines at 51.9 per cent and 48.3 per cent below normal, respectively.
Snowmelt typically accounts for 23 per cent of annual water flow in these river systems. ICIMOD has warned that continued decline could lead to more frequent water shortages, increased groundwater reliance, and greater risk of drought.
The agency urged governments to act swiftly by drafting water-saving policies, improving drought preparedness, and using scientific data to better manage the region’s fragile water systems.