Fresh snowfall brings sigh of relief as snow had disappeared from ‘Om Parvat’, first time in two decades

Fresh snowfall brings sigh of relief as snow had disappeared from ‘Om Parvat’, first time in two decades

B.D.Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, Aug 27

Complete disappearance of snow from the hills of ‘Om Parvat’ making the sign of ‘Om’ in Vyans valley for the first time in past more than two decades, indicating climate changes, has created panic amongst the tourism stake holders in high Himalayan region and environmentalists.

The snow forming the sign of ‘Om’ in Sanskit language meaning GOD on the hills is a major tourist and pilgrim attraction in Vyans Valley of Pithoragarh district. The hill is thus known as ‘Om Parvat’.

However, there was a sigh of relief as fresh snowfall last night on ‘Om Parvat’ brought the natural signage of ‘OM’ back on the hills,today.

Tourists who visited the ‘Om Parvat’ this week have said that they found snowless hills on the ‘Om Parvat’, which is said to be snow clad all year around. “When I, visited ‘Om Parvat’ on August 16, this year, there was no snow in the ‘OM’ shaped hill,” said Urmila Sanwal, a resident of Gunji village, who clicked snowless photos of ‘Om Parvat’ on August 16 this year.

“It is for the first time in my service of 22 years with Kumoan Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN)  when I saw a complete snowless ‘Om Parvat’. if such situation remains even for longer, it will adversely affect tourism potential of Vyans valley,” said Dhan Singh Bisht, in charge of base camp of ‘Adi Kailash’ yatra at Dharchula.

According to KMVN official, till date years, the rate of snow melt during summers on ‘Om Parvat’, remained up to 95 to 99 percent but it was complete this year.

However, the snow has returned on ‘Om Parvat’ today after last night’s snowfall,  Informed Dhan Singh Bisht.

Bisht, who has experience of running the famous ‘Kailash Mansarowar’ and ‘Adi Kailash Yatras’, for 20 years continuously, the viral photos of snowless ‘Om Parvat’ created panic amongst district administration officials in Pithoragarh who have now taken a sigh of relief after fresh snowfall on ‘Om Parvat’.

“From last 5 years, the rains and snowfall in high Himalayan region has shown a tendency of pouring or snowfall at scattered placed in less density that might be the cause of no snow in ‘Om Parvat’, “said Dhan Singh.

Dr Sunil Nautiyal, Director of GB Pant National Institute of Environment and Development at Almora, said that the rising temperatures in eco sensitive zones of Himalayan region due to increased number of bio fuel run vehicles besides the general phenomenon of global warming has led to absence of snow during summers.” We will have to determine bearing capacity of all sensitive places of high Himalayan region as well as rampant forest fires as carbon generated by forest fires is also damaging  sensitive spots in the high Himalayan region,” said  Dr Sunil Nautiyal.

Vyans valley, that was connected with motor road in the year 2020,  witnessed a total of over 20000 vehicles, visitors from October last year  till beginning of monsoon this year, after Prime Minister Modi visited the place on October 12, 2023.

“It was 10 times more foot fall in this region as there used to be only 2000 visitors to ‘Adi Kailash’ and ‘Mansarowar’ before Modi’s visit,” said Krishna Garbiyal, a resident of Garbiyang village of Vyans valley.