Dhauladhar Glaciers Shrinking Fast, More Glacial Lakes Forming

A study published in the Journal of Indian Society of Remote Sensing reveals rapid glacier recession in Himachal Pradesh's Dhauladhar mountains, with glacier cover shrinking from 50.8 km² in 2000 to 42.84 km² in 2020. Conducted by scientists from Central University of Jammu, Galgotias University, and Himachal Pradesh University, the research attributes melting to rising winter temperatures and land-use changes. Glacial lakes have increased from 36 to 43, raising flood risks. While medium glaciers are declining, small ones are proliferating. The study highlights the urgent need for disaster risk strategies to mitigate downstream impacts in this critical Himalayan region.