Freshwater lakes in the Western Himalayan Region: An analysis of the present situation

•The Western Himalayan range comprises the majority of the Indian Himalayas including J&K, H.P., and Uttarakhand•The Western Himalayan Range is vulnerable to both the whims of nature and human interference due to mountainous location•The quantity of contaminants has elevated as the lake's water has decreased because of the growth in and around it•Agricultural runoff, untreated sewage, and silt from nearby catchments have all caused the lake's water quality to decline.•Anthropogenic sources have resulted in a significant influx of nutrients from the drainages into these lakes.