'Next Maha Kumbh could be on sand...': Wangchuk to PM
What's the story
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has penned an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising alarm over the rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers.
In his letter, he stressed on the need to preserve these glaciers as they are the source of India's sacred rivers like Ganga and Yamuna.
"This may also mean that the next Maha Kumbh might only happen on the sandy remains of the sacred river," he warned.
Preservation plea
Wangchuk urges India to lead in glacier preservation
Wangchuk urged PM Modi to set up a commission to study the condition of Himalayan glaciers.
He warned if things remain the same, rivers like Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus could turn seasonal.
"As we all know, the Himalayan glaciers are melting very fast, and if this and the accompanying deforestation continues at the current rate...our sacred rivers...might become seasonal," he said.
Meeting request
Wangchuk seeks audience with PM Modi
The Ladakh-based environmentalist also sought a meeting with PM Modi for community members from Ladakh to bring a block of ice from one of Ladakh's fast-melting glaciers.
The symbolic gesture is meant to be a message from the climate-affected people of the region.
The United Nations has declared 2025 as the "International Year of Glaciers' Preservation," underlining global concerns over the matter.