Srinagar, Mar 30: Kashmir is experiencing the effects of global warming, with high altitude glaciers retreating at an unprecedented rate, thus threatening the eco-system of the valley.

Owing to global warming, most of the small glaciers in Kashmir have melted totally, while the larger ones have decreased in size.

According to a study carried out by the Action Aid International (AAI) last year, many areas in Kashmir have seen a complete disappearance of small glaciers.

"The surface area of the glaciers has been decreased by two third in many cases in Kashmir. In the Peerpanjal mountain range, some glaciers have been totally disappeared. You know now you can't find glaciers beyond July- August in most of the Peerpanjal range. So, those glaciers which used to be there for the whole year, are difficult to find now and those who were the bigger ones have receded tremendously," said Arjimand Talib, the head of Kashmir branch of Action Aid International.

According to the data collected by the AAI from the eight districts of the Kashmir showed that the water level in almost all the streams and rivers has decreased by about one-third, in some cases even by half, during the last 40 years.

According to locals residing in Sonmarg, most of the glaciers, including Thajiwas and Kolahoi, have receded during the last 50 years.

"The glaciers of Sonmarg, which were very popular once, due to the global warming it is being felt that glaciers are reducing day by day. No one is taking care of it otherwise if care is taken there are 90 percent chances of saving Sonmarg glaciers," said Abdul Rehman Malik, a local resident.

The recent springtime floods in Kashmir have largely been as a consequence of fast melt down of snow in the mountains, coupled with the spring rains. (ANI)