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Rangpo River - Himalayan River - Rongli Market - Sikkim

The Rangpo River, a fast-flowing Himalayan tributary in East Sikkim, appears brown due to erosion as people perform religious acts nearby in Rongli, Sikkim, India, on April 18, 2026. A bridge featuring an image of Sikkim's national animal, the red panda, spans the river, with cars, motorbikes, and stray dogs passing by. The Himalayas, known as the ''Water Tower of Asia,'' provide water to nearly 2 billion people, but climate warming poses a threat to these river systems. Research from 1980 to 2020 indicates that melting glaciers and thawing frozen ground are causing Himalayan rivers to change course more rapidly, increasing the risk of flooding, erosion, and damage to infrastructure. Localities face risks such as Glacial Lake Outburst Floods, flash floods, landslides, and unpredictable river movements due to climate change and rapid glacial melt. (Photo by Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto)

Photo ID	#13805485
Date Taken	18 April 2026
Location	N/A
Photographer	Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto
Category	Environmental Issue
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto

Rangpo River Rangpo Khola Himalayan tributary East Sikkim Rongli Market Old Silk Route Sikkim erosion religious merit bridge red panda cars motorbikes stray dogs Rongli India April 18 2026 Himalayas Water Tower of Asia climate warming melting glaciers thawing frozen ground flooding infrastructure damage Glacial Lake Outburst Floods flash floods landslides climate change glacial melt Soumyabrata Roy NurPhoto