Across India, rivers are running low much earlier in the year than usual. From the Ganga basin to smaller rivers in central and northern areas, water levels are dropping weeks before the typical dry season starts.
This change is linked to shorter and unpredictable monsoons, prolonged dry spells, rapid groundwater depletion, less snowmelt, and rising temperatures that speed up evaporation. As urban areas expand, natural water sources can’t replenish as they once did, leaving rivers even drier.
Farmers are noticing weaker irrigation flows just when their crops need it most. Hydropower stations are experiencing reduced outputs, and towns that rely on surface water are facing shortages earlier each year. It’s clear that what people are experiencing is backed by science.
A 2025 global analysis using satellite data revealed that our continents are losing freshwater from rivers, lakes, and wetlands at a startling rate. This decline in freshwater affects Asia significantly. In the Ganga basin, a study found that peak river flows have decreased by about 17% each decade in several areas.
Researchers studied data from 173 gauging stations between 1970 and 2010, and nearly 75% of them noted significant declines in water levels. Another study from IIT Gandhinagar and the University of Arizona traced the Ganga’s flow patterns over 1,300 years. It concluded that the drying trends since the 1990s are unlike anything seen in the past millennium.
Himalayan snow, crucial for maintaining river flows, has also seen a steep decline. In just ten years, snow cover in the Ganga basin dropped from 30.2% to 24.1%. Additionally, lakes and wetlands that help sustain river flow are suffering due to pollution and climate stress.
These water shortages impact irrigation, drinking water supplies, hydropower, and ecosystems. As surface water becomes unreliable, cities are increasingly turning to already overused groundwater, worsening the situation. Major cities like Delhi and Bengaluru are at risk of “Day Zero,” where water supplies could run out completely.
Experts are urging immediate action. They recommend aggressive groundwater recharge, protecting wetlands, improving irrigation methods, recycling treated wastewater, and planning at the river basin level. Without prompt steps, India’s rivers may continue to dry up earlier each year, transforming a seasonal problem into a long-lasting water crisis.
For more on India’s water crisis and potential solutions, check out this report on water management strategies.
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