Kolahoi melting faster than nature can replenish, warns KU study
Abid Bashir
Srinagar, May 22: High above the pine forests and alpine valleys of Kashmir, a silent collapse is underway. The ancient Kolahoi Glacier — long considered the Valley’s frozen savings bank of water — is now losing ice faster than nature can replenish it, exposing an unfolding climate emergency that scientists say could redefine Kashmir’s hydrological future.
A landmark study by researchers from University of Kashmir has revealed that the glacier has entered repeated phases of aggressive retreat since 1980, with the most devastating losses recorded after 2000. The findings paint a troubling picture—Kashmir’s glaciers are no longer merely shrinking — they are struggling to survive rising temperatures.
Led by renowned glaciologist Professor Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, the research combines field measurements, satellite observations and climate modelling to reconstruct nearly four decades of glacier behaviour. The scientists found that the glacier has been consistently losing mass, with warming temperatures emerging as the biggest driver of destruction.
What makes the crisis especially dangerous is the glacier’s fragile sensitivity to heat. Researchers found that even a minor rise of one degree Celsius dramatically intensifies ice loss, while increased snowfall offers little relief. In simple terms, Kashmir’s glaciers are melting far quicker than winter can rebuild them. But the story is bigger than ice.
The melting of Kolahoi threatens the rhythm of rivers that sustain life across the region. Streams fed by glacier melt are already showing signs of weakening during autumn months — an early warning that future water flows may become increasingly unstable.
Scientists caution that the implications stretch far beyond the mountains: shrinking glaciers could disrupt irrigation, hydropower generation, drinking water supply, tourism and fragile ecosystems dependent on Himalayan runoff. The study also exposes a deeper scientific challenge. Much of the Himalaya remains poorly monitored, with sparse weather stations and limited glacier observations forcing researchers to rely on complex modelling systems to understand what is happening in the high-altitude cryosphere.
Researchers say the findings should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers in the Himalayan region, where climate change is steadily eroding natural water reserves while demand for water continues to rise. For centuries, Kolahoi stood as a frozen reservoir feeding Kashmir’s rivers season after season. Today, scientists warn that the reservoir is steadily emptying.
