Advises residents of low-lying areas to remain vigilant as heavy rains raise fears of flash floods and landslides.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Tuesday issued a glacial lake flood (GLOF) alert for five upper districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), directed district administrations to take precautionary measures and advised residents of low-lying areas to remain vigilant.
According to the PDMA, glaciers may melt due to prevailing weather conditions in Upper Chitral, Lower Chitral, Upper Dir, Swat and Upper Kohistan, adding that intense rains may trigger glacial lake outbursts, flash floods and landslides in these areas.
The advisory mentions that scattered rains and thunderstorms, including isolated heavy downpours, are expected to affect vulnerable areas, increasing the risk of GLOF and flash flooding, where rising temperatures combined with precipitation could accelerate the melting of glaciers.
“District administrations have also been instructed to conduct evacuation drills in at-risk communities and ensure that safe evacuation sites are fully stocked and operational. Authorities have been asked to ensure proactive monitoring of vulnerable glacial sites for early warnings and rapid responses,” he added.
The PDMA advised residents in low-lying areas to remain vigilant, while local communities in vulnerable areas should be warned through effective communication systems, including community alerts.
The authority also ordered that emergency and rescue service personnel remain available, with necessary machinery and equipment pre-positioned for rapid response.
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According to the PDMA, a public awareness campaign has been launched, urging people to avoid unnecessary movement near streams, nullahs and rivers, and warning of the risk of vehicles being swept away by fast-flowing waters.
“Tourists and travelers have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel in sensitive areas. Authorities have been asked to maintain coordination with the National Highway Authority (NHA), Border Works Organization (FWO) and Department of Communications and Works (C&W) for speedy restoration of roads in case of blockages,” the statement added.
In cases of increased risk, controlled breaching of vulnerable glacial lakes can be carried out to avoid sudden explosions. The PDMA said its emergency operations center remains operational 24 hours a day and asked officials to share regular updates. Citizens are advised to contact the helpline (1700) in case of emergency.
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GLOF occurs when water from a glacier-fed lake is suddenly released, often due to the failure of a natural dam made of ice or debris. This rapid flow can trigger severe flooding downstream, causing damage to infrastructure, agriculture and communities in mountainous regions.
