MUKTINATH: The ever rising temperatures due to global warming have taken its toll on mountains in Mustang district. The once snow-clad peaks now have very little snow on them, while some of them wear a barren look altogether. According to Dhawa Gurung of Kagbeni in the district, the melting of snow at an alarming rate in the mountains in the Himalayas is a consequence of climate change, while air pollution has added to the problem. Minayor Gurung of Kagbeni-7 said some mountains these days have no snow at all as snowfall has been scanty in the past years. 'With the scant snowfall in the mountains, the grass cannot grow, while sheep in the areas have been suffering the most,' Minayor said. According to him, while the area used to witness heavy snowfall with the very onset of winter earlier, this time around, there was snowfall in the areas only twice during the entire winter season. According to the locals, Mustang also saw 'black rains' falling this year due to air pollution. Unlike in the past years, locals these days can easily spend the days wearing only a T-shirt in the Kagbeni and Muktinath areas. Seema Pokharel, a tourist visiting the area, said, 'I was told that Muktinath is very cold this time of the year, but surprisingly it's very sunny and hot here.' Residents of the area also said very less wind blows in the areas as compared to the previous years. Chief District Officer Umesh Kumar Dhakal said apple production places in the district have also shifted to places in higher altitude given the rise in temperature. 'Though Marpha and Jomsom are popular as apple producing areas for ages, production is better in Muktinath and Kagbeni these days,' Dhakal said.