India, Jan. 22 -- Auli, the popular skiing destination in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, is facing an unusually snowless winter, raising serious concerns over the impact of climate change on winter sports, tourism and the region's identity. Large stretches of its slopes remain bare, with brown earth visible where thick snow cover is usually expected at this time of year. The absence of snowfall has led to negligible tourist footfall and put major winter events, including the national skiing and snowboarding championships, at risk of cancellation.

"This is the fourth time in the last five years that the championship is likely to be cancelled," said Parveen Sharma, secretary of the Uttarakhand Winter Games Association. "Even if it snows n...