ISLAMABAD/CHILAS:
A powerful downpour triggered devastating flash floods in Thor Valley in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamer district, washing away houses, orchards, standing crops, bridges and vehicles, cutting road links and leaving affected communities stranded as national disaster authorities warned of an increased risk of floods caused by glacial lakes (Glofs) in mountainous areas of the north of the country.
The floods, triggered by torrential rains on Friday, caused considerable damage in several parts of the valley.
Authorities said damaged roads had complicated relief efforts, while residents called for immediate help, compensation and a full assessment of losses.
Police say floodwaters engulfed much of Thor Valley, washing away homes, orchards, cropland, bridges and vehicles.
The flood also entered Wapda settlement, causing extensive damage to buildings, roads and other infrastructure.
Police said the main road connecting Thor Valley had been blocked in several places, cutting off much of the population from the rest of the district and making rescue operations increasingly difficult.
Flood victims have urged the government to launch immediate relief operations, assess losses and provide financial assistance to affected families.
A resident said: “I suffered huge losses and even my gold was taken away. »
Diamer Deputy Director of Disaster Management Imtiaz Ahmed said efforts were underway to restore road access and deliver relief supplies to the affected areas.
He said relief operations and road restoration had already started, but blocked roads were creating serious challenges for rescue teams and aid workers.
The local administration said it was continuously monitoring the situation and working to restore access to isolated communities as quickly as possible.
The disaster came as the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), through its National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), issued a fresh alert warning of high risk of glacial lake-driven floods and flash floods between June 27 and July 3 in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Prolonged high temperatures combined with forecast precipitation are expected to accelerate the melting of glaciers, increasing water flow in mountain rivers and streams, according to the advisory.
Authorities have warned that rapid melting of glaciers could cause a sudden rise in river levels, while increased pressure on glacial lakes could trigger flash floods, flash floods, landslides and mudslides.
The alert identified Hunza, Nagar, Ghizer, Skardu, Shigar, Ghanche, Kharmang, Astore, Diamer, Upper and Lower Chitral, Swat and adjacent mountainous areas as particularly vulnerable.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) also warned that rising temperatures are likely to persist until the first week of July, significantly accelerating the melting of snow and glaciers in northern Pakistan.
“This significant warming will significantly accelerate the melting of snow and ice in glacial valleys in these regions,” the Met Office said.
It warned that river flows would remain unusually high, existing glacial lakes could expand rapidly and new glacial lakes could form due to increased meltwater.
The PMD further warned that the expansion of glacial lakes could destabilize natural ice or moraine dams, potentially triggering Glof incidents, while large mudslides, debris flows and landslides could also occur in steep mountainous terrain.
The department advised residents, tourists and travelers to avoid river banks, streams, glacial lakes and mountain nullahs, refrain from camping or hiking near vulnerable water channels and avoid unstable slopes where melting snow could trigger landslides.
The NDMA also advised people to avoid unnecessary movement near rivers, streams and glacial lakes, monitor official weather advisories before traveling to mountainous areas and immediately report any sudden rise in water level, unusual change in water color or abnormal noise from glaciers to the relevant authorities.
Authorities warned that flash floods and landslides could damage roads, bridges, irrigation systems and other critical infrastructure, while temporary road closures and flooding in low-lying villages remained possible.
The NDMA has ordered all relevant departments to maintain continuous monitoring of glaciers, glacial lakes, rivers and weather conditions.
Following the PMD’s advisory, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has asked the deputy commissioners of Upper and Lower Chitral, Upper Dir, Swat, Upper and Lower Kohistan and Mansehra to undertake proactive monitoring of vulnerable sites.
District administrations have been directed to conduct evacuation drills, prepare emergency shelters, launch public awareness campaigns and warn residents living in low-lying areas of potential dangers.
The PDMA also asked local authorities to coordinate with the National Highways Authority (NHA), Frontier Works Organization (FWO) and the Department of Communication and Works to ensure timely restoration of roads and bridges in case of flood damage.
Authorities have been urged to take all necessary precautionary measures to minimize loss of life, livestock, crops and infrastructure, as temperatures continue to fuel melting glaciers in the country’s northern mountains.
