Humla mountains wear bare look as snow melt accelerates

By Rajan Rawat,Humla, Aug. 20: Snow has, of late, been melting at an alarming rate in the Himalayan Mountains. Rising temperatures due to global warming and the reduction of snowfall during the winter have led to this decrease.

Paljor Tamang, the Ward Chairperson of Limi village in Namkha Rural Municipality-6, noted that the mountains that used to be covered by snow throughout the year have started looking bare. The snow-covered mountains in the northern part of Halji village have started looking bare due to the excessive melting of snow, he added.   

He also said that layers of old, blackened snow that accumulated over the years are thinning and the areas covered by snow till last year looked bare this year, he said. 

The thinner snow cover has now made it possible for people to reach the places that were difficult to access earlier. He attributed the reduced snow cover in the Himalayas to the decrease in snowfall during the winter.

As the snow in the mountains decreases, the surrounding areas are also experiencing increased temperatures, said Tamang. 

He pointed out that in the past, snow would never completely melt in some areas, but now, snow in these areas is also melting at an alarming rate.

Gobinda Pandit, who has been working in the field of climate change, said that the rising temperatures due to global warming are leading to a decrease in snow in the mountains. He said that the decreasing snowfall during the winter is not a positive sign. 

Pandit added that it was not just the mountains in Limi that are looking bare. The snow has been thinning in Nyalu, Nara, Yari, Chala, Panchmukhi, Raling, Changla, and Changkheli. He stressed the need for afforestation to preserve the snow in the mountains, stating that countries like Nepal have limited options to combat climate change. Travellers observing the Himalayan region have reported that high-altitude areas are showing less snow, with barer, black mountains becoming more visible.