Uncertainty looms over Chadar trek as Zanskar river not yet frozen

The much-awaited Chadar trek on the frozen Zanskar river in Ladakh, scheduled to begin on Tuesday, has been postponed due to environmental factors, including global warming. The river, which is usually frozen by this time of year, has yet to freeze completely, forcing authorities to delay the event.

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Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Leh, Ghulam Mohammad, expressed concern over the situation, attributing it to global warming. “During this time, the river is generally frozen on both sides. However, a reconnaissance team sent last week to assess the feasibility of the trek was surprised to find that the riverbanks, where trekkers would walk, were not frozen,” he said.

The ADC stated that another reconnaissance mission would be conducted on January 11-12 to determine whether the river will be ready for the trek. Preparations for the event, which was scheduled to start on January 7, had already been completed by both the administration and tour operators.

Hundreds of trekkers from across the country participate in the Chadar trek annually. “While the infrastructure for the trek is ready, we are waiting for the river to freeze,” the ADC added.

The Chadar Trek is a 7-9 day expedition stretching from Chilling to Padum in Ladakh. However, last year, the route was shortened due to road construction by the Border Roads Organization (BRO). Experts anticipate that this year’s trek will also be truncated.