Glacier burst sweeps away G-B villages, blocks river

As Gilgit-Baltistan continues to stagger under the weight of climate change–induced disasters, a massive glacier burst in Ghizer district on Wednesday night unleashed catastrophic flooding, choking the Ghizer River and triggering large-scale devastation in downstream villages.

Rescue 1122 confirmed on Friday that at least 200 people were pulled to safety after the outburst at Tali Das in the Gupis area blocked the river, creating an artificial lake and sparking fears of high-level flooding further downstream. "Several traumatised residents have lost their homes. Medical teams are providing assistance to the displaced," the rescue agency said in a statement.

According to officials, the deluge swept through Tildas and Rawshan villages, flattening homes and farmland. The Ghizer River remained blocked for nearly eight hours before water began spilling over the debris, though the risk of a sudden breach still looms large. Local residents described the destruction as "biblical," with nearly 80 per cent of one settlement washed away.

G-B government spokesperson Faizullah Firaq confirmed the scale of devastation, adding that a full-fledged rescue operation had been launched. "The flow of the Ghizer River has been blocked for hours. If it bursts, low-lying areas will be inundated," he warned.

Law and Tourism Minister Ghulam Muhammad reported that 70 houses had been destroyed and warned that "hundreds more could be submerged if the blockage is not cleared." He said an army helicopter had been sent to evacuate people still trapped in the valley.

Fida Hussain, Secretary to the G-B government, said no casualties had been reported so far and credited local volunteers for reaching stranded villagers before army teams joined in. He explained that soaring temperatures had triggered the glacial lake outburst, which in turn caused severe flooding in the Sado nullah.

Chief Rescue Officer Engineer Tahir Shah confirmed that his teams remained on high alert. Residents in vulnerable areas were urged to move to higher ground, as the swollen river continued to pose a grave risk.

The disaster comes on the heels of relentless flash floods since July that have already caused an estimated Rs30 billion in damages across G-B, leaving thousands without clean water, electricity and road access. At least 39 people, including tourists, have lost their lives in rain-triggered incidents this summer.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of another spell of rain from August 23 to 27, with heavy showers forecast for Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar. Landslides and mudslides could further sever vital road links, the PMD warned.

Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) — sudden releases of water from glacial lakes — have become increasingly frequent in the north. Pakistan, home to over 13,000 glaciers, holds the largest concentration outside the polar regions. This month alone, a GLOF from the Shishper Glacier swept away a section of the Karakoram Highway in Hassanabad, while another in Bagrot Valley killed one person and injured his father.

For G-B residents, each new outburst feels like another brush with disaster — a reminder that in the shadow of melting glaciers, life is lived on borrowed time.