IN THE WAKE of climate change impact on natural environment across the globe, a glacial lake at the Purepu Glacier, North of the Langtang Himal in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, has been undergoing a significant change in its size, according to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).
The ICIMOD observed the formation and draining of the lake from July 9, 2023 to July 16 2023 and regaining size in December 2024 and June 2025.
“This time, a series of image shows the formation and draining of the a glacial lake at the Purepu Glacier, north of the Langtang Himal, from 9th July 2023 to 16 July 2023. The lake reshaped itself gaining size once more in December 2024, and significantly grew in size in June of this year,” according to an ICIMOD release.
It may be noted that the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region stretches 3,500 km across Asia, spanning eight countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
Encompassing high-altitude mountain ranges, mid-hills, and plains, the zone is vital for food, water, and energy security of up to two billion people and is a habitat for countless irreplaceable species, the ICIMOD stated.
The HKH region is “acutely fragile, and vulnerable to the impacts of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss,” mentioned the ICIMOD, which is working to make this critical region greener, more inclusive and climate resilient.
Meanwhile, Yala Glacier in Langtang, which has shrunk by 66 per cent and retreated 784M since it was first measured in the 1970s is projected to be among the first Nepali glaciers to join the growing numbers of glaciers declared ‘dead’ worldwide.
According to ICIMOD, Yala is one of just seven glaciers in the entire 3,500km-long arc of the HKH to have been monitored annually for a decade or more and it is one of 38 glaciers with in-situ measurements, providing crucial data on the speed and extent of losses.
On May 12, Locals of Langtang, Nepal, and glaciologists from four glaciated countries in the HKH gathered to mark the accelerating disappearance of Yala Glacier.
More than 50 people, including Buddhist monks and members of local community, and glacier experts from Bhutan, China, India, and Nepal completed the arduous high-altitude trek to attend the “poignant” tribute event, the ICIMOD said.
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