The current snowmelt deficit may lead to reduced river flow in early summer. In contrast, the basin recorded its highest snow persistence in 2015, when it stood at 30.2% above normal.The basin had a deficit of 13.6% and 20.4% snow persistence in November 2023 and March 2024 respectively. This year, the deficit has increased to 24.1%. In the past six years, four seasons witnessed a deficit in snow persistence. In 2020 and 2022, the Ganga basin witnessed a snow surplus, 27% and 26.4% above normal respectively.The consistent decline of snow for the past three years has put the lives of India’s 43% population who reside in the Ganga basin at risk.Similarly, the Brahmaputra basin has also recorded a consitent dip in snow persistence which fell to its lowest–27.9% below normal–in 2025. The basin had recorded a deficit of 10.7% and 15.7% in snow persistence in November 2023 and March 2024, respectively.
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