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Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has raised alarm over the rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers, warning that future editions of the Maha Kumbh may be held on dry riverbeds instead of the sacred confluence of rivers.

 

In an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Wangchuk expressed grave concerns about the state of India’s glaciers, which serve as the source of major rivers including the Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, and Indus.

 

He urged the government to establish a dedicated commission to assess and mitigate the deterioration of these crucial water sources.

 

“As we all know, the Himalayan glaciers are melting very fast, and if this and the accompanying deforestation continues at the current rate, in a few decades our sacred rivers like Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus might become seasonal rivers. This may also mean that the next Maha Kumbh might only happen on the sandy remains of the sacred river,” he warned.

 

#WATCH | Delhi | Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk says, "...As a world leader, I hope PM Narendra Modi will take steps to first assess the state of the glaciers by setting up a commission and declaring certain glaciers as national treasures like Gangotri, Yamnotri or those in the… pic.twitter.com/whC8APf1Yf

— ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2025

 

Wangchuk, a Ladakh-based environmentalist known for his work on sustainable technologies, described himself as an “admirer” of the prime minister’s environmental initiatives and urged Modi to take proactive steps in glacier conservation.

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“India needs to take a lead in glacier preservation as we have the Himalayas, and our sacred rivers such as the Ganga and Yamuna come out of them,” he stated in his letter.

 

The environmentalist lamented the lack of awareness among the general public regarding the crisis. He also sought an audience with the prime minister to present a symbolic ice block from one of Ladakh’s rapidly melting glaciers as a stark message from the climate-affected people of the region.

 

The United Nations has declared 2025 as the “International Year of Glaciers' Preservation.”

 

Wangchuk called for India to play a leading role in global efforts to combat climate change and protect its fragile ecosystems.

 

The ongoing Maha Kumbh, which commenced on January 13 and concludes today, is being held at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers converge.

 

Also read: Sonam Wangchuk ends fast following home ministry's assurance