Om Parvat: Snow disappears at popular 14,000-foot Vyas Valley peak due to tourism. Check shocking images

For the first time, snow completely disappeared from Uttarakhand's Om Parvat last week, sparking concerns among visitors and experts alike. The phenomenon, attributed to scanty rainfall and snowfall in the upper Himalayan region over the past five years, rising vehicular pollution, and global warming, left the iconic peak bare. However, a snowfall on Monday night brought back snow to the revered site.

Impact on Tourism

Om Parvat, located at an altitude of approximately 14,000 feet in the Vyas Valley, is a popular tourist destination known for its snow-capped peak that naturally forms a pattern resembling the Hindi word "Om." The snowless state of the peak has raised worries about the potential impact on tourism in the region if the hill remains without snow for extended periods. "It was really disappointing to see Om Parvat, which has a reputation of being eternally clad in snow, utterly devoid of it when I went there on August 16," a visitor said.

Local Reactions

Urmila Sanwal, a resident of Gunji village, shared photos of the snowless peak, expressing her surprise and disappointment. "There was no snow on the 'Om'-shaped hill. The spot was barely recognizable without snow," she said. Dhan Singh Bisht, who oversees the Adi Kailash Yatra base camp in Dharchula, confirmed that this was the first time in his 22 years of service that he witnessed a snowless Om Parvat.

Environmental Factors and Concerns

Experts have linked the unprecedented snow disappearance to multiple factors, including a significant reduction in rainfall and snowfall, vehicular pollution, and global warming. Sunil Nautiyal, Director of the GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, highlighted the rising temperatures in the eco-sensitive zones of the Himalayan region as a key cause. He stressed the need to determine the bearing capacity of all sensitive places in the high Himalayan region to mitigate the impact of such occurrences.

Tourist Footfall and Environmental Impact

The increased number of tourists following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jolingkong in October last year is also seen as contributing to the environmental strain. "Tourist footfall has gone up 10 times since Modi's visit to Jolingkong for a darshan of the Adi Kailash peak," said Krishna Garbiyal, a resident of Garbiyang village in Vyas Valley.

Return of Snow

Fortunately, snowfall on Monday night has restored the snow cover on Om Parvat. Bisht noted that the return of snow provided a sense of relief to the district administration in Pithoragarh, who were concerned after seeing viral photos of the snowless peak. However, the incident has raised awareness about the ongoing environmental challenges facing the region and the need for sustainable practices to preserve its natural beauty.