The iconic Om Parvat on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand has lost its ‘Om’ symbol due to rapid snow melt. The sacred mountain, at 5,900 meters in the Dharchula tehsil, is now snowless, revealing a black, barren peak that is alarming environmentalists and locals.
Om symbol vanishes from Om Parvat
The ‘Om’ symbol, a significant religious and tourist attraction, is disappearing due to global warming and construction in the high Himalayan region. Urmila Sanwal Gunjyal, a local who visited Om Parvat on August 16, 2024, expressed dismay at the mountain’s lack of snow. “When I went to Nabhidang for photos, the ‘Om’ sign was missing. The mountain now looks entirely black,” she said.
Environmentalists and residents blame global warming, road construction, and excessive tourist traffic for the change. Local teacher Govind Singh Gunjyal said the high Himalayan region has seen unprecedented construction, including a crusher and tar roads, contributing to rapid snow melting. “The June heat was like that of a valley, a stark contrast to the usual cool temperatures,” Gunjyal remarked.
In September 2016, Om Parvat had snow, but this year, it’s barren, showing the impact of climate change. Mountaineer Yogesh Garbyal, a Mount Everest conqueror, emphasized the need for collective action to save the mountains, environment, vegetation, and glaciers.
“The effects of climate change are evident in our high Himalayan regions. The increasing heat and changing weather patterns have reduced snowfall, and pollution accelerates snow melting due to black carbon,” Garbyal noted.
Uttarakhand’s GLOF threat
In recent years, the state has experienced two significant Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) events, causing devastating impacts. The first in June 2013 caused widespread destruction in the Kedarnath Valley, resulting in thousands of fatalities. The second, in February 2021, saw flash floods ravage the Chamoli district, compounding the region’s woes.
Uttarakhand has 13 glacial lakes identified as potential GLOF disaster hotspots. Five, including Vasudhara Tal in Chamoli district and four in Pithoragarh district, are classified as high-risk. These lakes, located at elevations between 4,351 and 4,868 meters above sea level, pose a significant threat due to their potential to unleash catastrophic floods if breached.
A 2021 study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research (PIK) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) forecasts a 1.6-1.9 degrees Celsius increase in the annual average maximum temperature in the hills between 2021 and 2050. This shift is likely to escalate the risk of GLOF occurrences, further endangering the Himalayan ecosystem.
Call to action
Om Parvat’s disappearance is a stark reminder of the need to address climate change and its impact on the Himalayan region. Environmentalists and locals call for immediate measures to mitigate global warming’s effects, control construction, and reduce pollution to preserve the region’s natural heritage.
The state government is urged to send experts to the Darma and Vyas valleys to study climate changes and develop preventive measures to protect the region’s ecosystem.
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