As glaciers melt: Five houses damaged in Brep village

Government will be asked to provide five marlas of land to each family so they could reside there

CHITRAL: At least five houses were damaged in Brep village, Chitral due to floodwater which was triggered by glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) on Saturday. However, the situation is under control, Chitral DC Osama Warraich said.

While speaking to The Express Tribune, Warraich said the inhabitants of Brep village were informed about possible floods as the current situation posed danger to villagers during this time of the year. He added they successfully evacuated and shifted people to safer places and no loss of life was reported.

He also said a case summary will be handed over to the government to provide a five-marla land to each family so they could reside there.

A resident of Chitral, Sheheryar Baig, said a non-government organisation has provided shelter to the people, whose houses were swept away in the floods.

Recently, around 200 families were evacuated from Brep village in upper Chitral because of flooding in Brep Nullah. No loss of life was reported, but Provincial Disaster Management Authority officials said a house was fully washed away and two others were damaged.

The meteorological office had warned glacial melting would cause damage in Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan because of the increase in global temperatures and climate change. These phenomena resulted in odd weather patterns, causing anomalies.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2016.