Water reserves in High Mountain Asia are rapidly disappearing

High Mountain Asia, often called the 'Third Pole,' holds the largest reserve of glacier ice outside the polar regions.

It is now facing a severe water crisis that threatens the livelihoods of nearly two billion people.

Research shows that glaciers here are losing over 22 gigatons of ice annually, while groundwater levels are dropping by billions of tonnes each year.

Driven by rising global temperatures and shifting monsoon patterns, this rapid melting is altering the region's water supply.

Once glaciers shrink significantly, downstream communities will face long-term water shortages, droughts, and increased risks from natural disasters like floods and landslides.

The crisis is further worsened by intense human water usage for agriculture.