Sonam Wangchuk Warns of Dry Rivers at Next Maha Kumbh, Urges PM Modi to Act

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has written an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, warning that if urgent action is not taken, the next Maha Kumbh—set to occur 144 years from now—may take place on dry riverbeds instead of flowing waters.

Wangchuk expressed deep concerns over the rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers, which are the source of India’s major rivers, including the Ganga and Yamuna. He urged the government to take the lead in glacier preservation, emphasizing that without intervention, rivers such as the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus could become seasonal within a few decades. “If this continues, the next Maha Kumbh might only happen on the sandy remains of our sacred rivers,” he warned.

In his letter, the Ladakh-based environmentalist, who described himself as an admirer of the prime minister’s environmental initiatives, called for the establishment of a commission to assess the state of Himalayan glaciers. He lamented the lack of awareness about the crisis among the public and stressed the need for immediate measures to protect India’s water sources.

Additionally, Wangchuk sought an audience with Prime Minister Modi to present a block of ice from one of Ladakh’s rapidly melting glaciers as a symbolic message from climate-affected communities. His appeal comes ahead of the United Nations’ declaration of 2025 as the “International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation.”

The ongoing Maha Kumbh, which began on January 13 and concludes today, is being held at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati meet. Wangchuk’s warning underscores the urgent need for action to ensure that future generations can witness such sacred gatherings by the rivers they revere.