Missing Swat mountaineer Mian Syed Ali Shah. Photo: Express
A search operation was underway on Saturday for a mountaineering guide who went missing after a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) affected seven people trekking Falak Sar peak in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Swat district, Rescue 1122 said.
“Legendary Swat mountaineer Mian Syed Ali Shah was climbing Falak Sar peak when his safety rope broke, causing him to fall from the peak. He has since gone missing and a search operation is on to find him,” said Swat Rescue District 1122 emergency officer Syed Shoaib Mansoor. The Express PK Press Club.
He said the climber went missing in the Matiltan area located in Upper Swat around 7pm last night.
“Six members of the expedition were rescued by the service,” he added.
Mansoor further said that among the six rescued trekkers, Swat Rescue 1122 medical teams shifted three injured people from Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Kalam to Saidu Sharif Central Hospital in Swat.
According to Rescue 1122, the injured were identified as Hawar Hussain, 40, Haris, 22, and Haroon, 27, all residents of Rawalpindi.
Read: PMD warns of heavy rains, flash floods and landslides across Pakistan from July 18-25
The rescuer also said the other three people affected by the glacier burst were safe.
He said the incident occurred in an “extremely isolated and difficult to access area”, which was hampering search operations.
A day earlier, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had revealed that at least 38 people had been killed and 120 injured in KP since the start of the monsoon season on June 26.
PMD issues new GLOF alert for KP and GB from July 19 to 25
The PMD issued an alert on Friday, warning that a westerly wave was likely to approach the northern regions of the country from July 19 (tomorrow), increasing the risk of GLOF events.
According to the PMD, the incoming system from the west is expected to bring moderate to heavy rains and thunderstorms to isolated areas of KP and GB till July 25.
The department said higher daytime temperatures in glacial valleys, combined with anticipated precipitation, could significantly accelerate the melting of snow and ice. As a result, river flows are expected to increase, while water levels in vulnerable rivers could rise rapidly.
Data shared by the department on X demonstrated a trend of high temperatures in the region.
In the weather advisory, PMD said existing glacial lakes could experience “a rapid increase in water levels” and new glacial lakes could also form due to the accumulation of meltwater in large volumes. Under these conditions, the probability of GLOF events increased.
The alert warns that vulnerable areas downstream and low-lying areas adjacent to river beds could face a high risk of flash flooding, while flash flooding is likely in vulnerable areas.
He further warned that thawing permafrost, combined with excess surface water, could also trigger significant mud and debris flows down mountain slopes.
The increased likelihood of landslides in steep terrain has also been noted as a possible impact of new Western influence.
The PMD has advised residents and visitors to snow-covered and glacial valleys to stay away from river banks, stream beds and local nullahs, and to closely monitor these water bodies for any gradual or sudden changes in water levels.
The department also urged the public to refrain from camping, hiking or staying near the banks of rivers, streams, glacial lakes and narrow mountain valleys, and to avoid steep slopes and unstable terrain where melting snow could trigger landslides or debris flows.
An advisory issued by the Met department today also warned of heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds over Swat, Naran, Murree, Gilgit, Hunza, Skardu and other tourist spots in the north from Sunday to Thursday.
