Guwahati, July 2 -- The Himalayan village of Samjung in Nepal's Upper Mustang district has been abandoned due to a long-term water crisis attributed to changing climate patterns.

Situated at an altitude of over 13,000 feet (3,962 meters), Samjung was once sustained by traditional livelihoods such as yak and sheep herding and small-scale farming. Residents relied on local springs, canals, and seasonal snowfall to meet their water needs.

Over the past two decades, the region has experienced a steady decline in snowfall and the drying up of local water sources. Traditional mud homes, built for the region's cold and dry climate, began to collapse as monsoon rainfall became more erratic and intense. Flash floods caused by concentrated rain e...