February 26, 2025: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has raised serious concerns over the future of India's sacred rivers, warning that the next Maha Kumbh, 144 years from now, may be held on sand instead of riverbanks due to rapid glacial melting. In an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Wangchuk urged immediate action to protect the Himalayan glaciers, which serve as the lifeline for major Indian rivers.

Highlighting the "fast melting" of these glaciers, Wangchuk emphasized that if deforestation and climate change continue unchecked, sacred rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra may become seasonal. “India needs to take a lead in glacier preservation as we have the Himalayas, and our sacred rivers such as the Ganga and Yamuna originate from them,” he stated.

Acknowledging Modi’s environmental initiatives, Wangchuk proposed the formation of a commission to assess the state of Himalayan glaciers and called for greater awareness among the public. He also sought a meeting with the Prime Minister, along with Ladakhi community members, to present a block of ice from a rapidly melting glacier as a symbolic message from the climate-affected region.

His warning comes as the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, which began on January 13, concludes today at the Triveni Sangam—the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati.

The urgency of Wangchuk’s appeal aligns with the United Nations' recent declaration of 2025 as the “International Year of Glaciers' Preservation,” underlining the global significance of protecting these crucial water sources.