In Tehri district, climate change and shifting glaciers in the higher Himalayan region are altering the natural flow of rivers and streams. During the monsoon season, rivers and rivulets are returning to their old courses with record force, creating risks for settlements located along their banks.
Prof. S.P. Sati from the Department of Environmental Science at Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry explained that rivers such as Bhilangna, Bal Ganga, Dharam Ganga, Jalkur, Heval, and Aglad are shifting back to their decades-old flow paths. He identified growing settlements along riverbanks, extensive road construction, and dumping of debris near rivers as major reasons behind these changes. Heavy rains cause silt accumulation, which further worsens the destructive impact.
