The loss of a holy symbol—snow disappearing from OM Parvat—is a more striking sign of climate change. The Om Parvat in Uttarakhand is treasured by many because snow forms the Sanatan symbol ‘Om’ at its peak. But this year, for the first time, snow disappeared from OM Parvat.

Mount Om, located at an elevation of approximately 5,900 metres above sea level, shares borders with India, China and Nepal. This Himalayan peak’s snow-formed ‘Om’ shape can only be seen from Indian territory. Mount Om, located in the Vyas Valley in the Dharchula development block, is a significant halt on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra path. The construction of a road to Mount Om in 2019 made access simpler, and the number of tourists increased when the road was extended to Lipulekh near the Chinese border.

“This is the first time Mount Om has been bereft of snow. I was born here. We’ve seen snow on the mountain all year since we were little. I feel that lower snowfall in the winter and higher automobile pollution have resulted in less snowfall here.” “We did not like seeing Mount Om without snow,” Sanjay Gunjyal, a local resident, said.

Gunjyal, who works as a porter for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and transports tourists to Adi Kailash, Mount Om, and the Kali Mata Temple, said, “When we heard about the loss of snow from Mount Om, everyone in our area was terrified. Even the completely snow-covered Adi Kailash Mountain borders are witnessing less snow. Who will visit Adi Kailash or Mount Om if it is not snowing? This will also impact our livelihoods.” The porter also opposes helicopter tourism in the area, believing it harms the ecosystem.

JC Kuniyal, chairperson of the Centre for Environmental Assessment and Climate Change at the GB Pant Institute in Almora, stated unequivocally that the absence of snow from Om Parvat directly results from climate change.

“Seasonal changes are being noted over the planet. Areas that had previously not received rainfall are now experiencing flood-like conditions. Global temperatures are rising. “All of this has an impact on glaciers,” Kuniyal explained.

The expert ascribed the snow disappearing from OM Parvat and the melting of Himalayan glaciers to local environmental variables and a major increase in pollutants. He noted that forest fires are becoming more frequent and widespread and that the black carbon produced by these fires impacts glaciers and snow accumulation on mountains.

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