Kashmir’s melting glaciers raise alarm over future water security

Srinagar June 13: Kashmir’s rapidly retreating glaciers are emerging as one of the most serious climate threats facing the region, with scientists warning that the continued loss of ice reserves could jeopardize water security, agriculture, ecosystems and livelihoods across South Asia in the coming decades.
Once considered permanent freshwater reservoirs, glaciers such as the iconic Thajwas Glacier in Sonamarg, the Kolahoi Glacier in south Kashmir and glaciers feeding the Hokersar Wetland are shrinking at an alarming pace due to rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns and increasingly erratic weather events.

According to various studies and field observations, Thajwas Glacier, a major tourist attraction in Ganderbal district, has witnessed a dramatic reduction in size. Researchers estimate that the glacier, which once stretched nearly 15 kilometres, has now receded to around 3.6 kilometres. Similarly, Kolahoi Glacier—often referred to as Kashmir’s “water tower” because it feeds several rivers and streams—has been steadily retreating over the decades.
Scientists have also reported substantial ice loss in glaciers connected to the Hokersar Wetland ecosystem, with some studies suggesting that more than 50 percent of their mass has disappeared over time.
Environmentalist Bilal Ahmad described the shrinking glaciers as a warning signal of a deepening climate crisis in the Himalayas.
“Glaciers are the lifeline of Kashmir’s water systems. Their rapid retreat is not just an environmental concern but a direct threat to rivers, springs, wetlands, agriculture and future water availability. What we are witnessing today could have serious consequences for generations to come,” he said.
Experts attribute the glacier retreat to a combination of climate-related factors, including rising average temperatures, reduced snowfall, prolonged dry spells, frequent heatwaves and changing weather patterns that disrupt the natural balance between snow accumulation and ice melt.
The impacts are already becoming visible on the ground. Local residents, tourism operators and ponywalas in glacier-fed regions say the reduction in snow and ice cover is evident compared to previous decades.
“Areas that once remained snowbound for much of the year now become exposed much earlier during summer,” said Mohammad Sidiq, a Ponywala at Sonamarg.
Environmental researchers warn that continued glacier loss could affect river flows, groundwater recharge and the health of wetlands, while increasing the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), potentially causing catastrophic flooding downstream.