River flow response to the changing climate is a major concern in the Himalayan region. Present understanding regarding the impact of glacier shrinkage on the river flow variations is summarized in the IPCC 2007, which stated that "as these glaciers retreat due to global warming, river flows are increased in the short term, but the contribution of glacier melt will gradually decrease over the next few decades" and "the enhanced melting of glaciers leads at first to increased river runoff and discharge peaks and an increased melt season" (IPCC, 2007).