The National Green Tribunal has asked the Centre and other agencies for responses over the threat from hanging glaciers in the central Himalayas. A recent study flags unstable glaciers on steep slopes, raising fears of avalanches and downstream disasters. It also notes a sharp increase in how many people are exposed as high-altitude development expands into vulnerable zones.
Snow cover across the Hindu Kush Himalaya has fallen to its lowest level in more than two decades, with weak snow levels persisting for the fourth year in a row. The result: reduced snow storage, meaning rivers may carry less water. With major basins like the Indus and Mekong seeing sharp declines, nearly two billion people could feel the impact.
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