DEHRADUN: Experts and priests from the Badrinath shrine have expressed alarm over the absence of snowfall in the region until December this year, attributing this phenomenon to climate change. They emphasized the urgent need for scientifically-based development initiatives aimed at environmental protection.
Priest Uttam Bhatt from Devprayag, who resides at the shrine for six months each year from the opening to the closing of the portals, remarked, "We have never witnessed a situation like this in the high Himalayan region as seen in 2024. Remarkably, there has been no snowfall during these six months, whereas in October 2023 alone, the area experienced snowfall three times."
Three weeks after the closure of the Badrinath temple gates, there has been no snowfall in Badripuri. The temple priests have begun to express concerns, stating, "The rampant movement of vehicles and the construction of all-weather roads in Badridham are contributing factors. It is essential to conduct a scientific study on this matter."
According to Professor S.C. Sati from the Department of Environmental Science at Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, the current situation in high Himalayan regions like Badrinath is a result of seasonal variability. "The lack of rainfall in these areas has led to a decrease in snowfall," he stated.
Professor Sati noted that last year was recorded as the hottest year in the past 100,000 years. "However, with the continuous rise in temperatures observed in 2024, it could turn out to be even hotter than last year," he added. He explained that the increase in temperatures in Badrinath is attributed to seasonal variability, which is impacting not only snowfall but also local water sources.
In an unprecedented turn of events, this marks the first time that the first week of December has passed without snowfall in Kedarnath. Dr Vijay Kant Purohit, Director of the High Altitude Plant Research Institute at HNB Central University in Srinagar, expressed concerns over the changing weather patterns. "The alterations in the weather cycle are not favourable," he stated.
He further explained, "The lack of snowfall means that glaciers are not receiving new snow, which will lead to melting starting as early as February. This poses a serious problem."
In a concerning development, environmentalist Dev Raghavendra informed The New Indian Express, "The first week of December has passed, yet Kedarnath and other high-altitude mountains remain snowless. The Himalayan peaks also have only a negligible amount of snow, which is a serious cause for concern. Since September of this year, there has been neither rain nor snowfall in Kedarnath."