Cloudburst triggers devastation in G-B
A powerful cloudburst unleashed devastating flash floods in Gilgit-Baltistan's Thor Valley in Diamer district, sweeping away homes, orchards, standing crops, bridges and vehicles, severing road links and leaving affected communities stranded as national disaster authorities warned of an increased risk of glacial lake outburst floods (Glofs) across the country's northern mountainous regions.
The flooding, triggered by torrential rainfall on Friday, caused widespread destruction across several parts of the valley.
Authorities said damaged roads have complicated rescue efforts, while residents appealed for immediate relief, compensation and a comprehensive assessment of losses.
According to police, floodwaters engulfed large parts of Thor Valley, washing away houses, orchards, cultivated land, link bridges and vehicles.
The flood also entered the Wapda Colony, causing extensive damage to buildings, roads and other infrastructure.
Police said the main road connecting Thor Valley had been blocked at several locations, cutting off a large population from the rest of the district and making relief operations increasingly difficult.
Flood victims urged the government to launch immediate relief operations, assess the losses and provide financial assistance to affected families.
One resident said: "I have suffered huge losses and even my gold has been washed away."
Assistant Director Disaster Management Diamer, Imtiaz Ahmed, said efforts were under way to restore road access and deliver relief supplies to the affected areas.
He said relief operations and road restoration had already begun, but blocked routes 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 Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC), issued a fresh alert warning of an elevated risk of glacial lake outburst floods and flash floods between June 27 and July 3 across Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the advisory, prolonged high temperatures combined with forecast rainfall are expected to accelerate glacier melting, increasing water flow in rivers and mountain streams.
Authorities warned that rapidly melting glaciers could cause a sudden rise in river levels, while increased pressure on glacial lakes may trigger glacial lake outburst floods, flash floods, landslides and mudslides.
The alert identified Hunza, Nagar, Ghizer, Skardu, Shigar, Ghanche, Kharmang, Astore, Diamer, Upper and Lower Chitral, Swat and adjoining mountainous regions as particularly vulnerable.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) also warned that rising temperatures are likely to persist until the first week of July, substantially accelerating snow and glacier melt across northern Pakistan.
"This significant warming will substantially accelerate snow and ice melt in the glaciated valleys of these regions," the Met Office said.
It warned that river flows would remain unusually high, existing glacial lakes could rapidly expand and new glacial lakes might form because of increased meltwater.
The PMD further cautioned that expanding glacial lakes could destabilise natural ice or moraine dams, potentially triggering Glof incidents, while heavy mudflows, debris flows and landslides could also occur in steep mountainous terrain.
The department advised residents, tourists and travellers to avoid riverbanks, streams, glacial lakes and mountain nullahs, refrain from camping or trekking near vulnerable water channels, and avoid unstable slopes where melting snow could trigger landslides.
The NDMA similarly advised people to avoid unnecessary movement near rivers, streams and glacial lakes, monitor official weather advisories before travelling to mountainous areas and immediately report any sudden rise in water levels, unusual changes in water colour or abnormal sounds from glaciers to the relevant authorities.
The authority 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 settlements remained possible.
The NDMA directed all relevant departments to maintain continuous monitoring of glaciers, glacial lakes, rivers and weather conditions.
Following the PMD advisory, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) instructed deputy commissioners in Upper and Lower Chitral, Upper Dir, Swat, Upper and Lower Kohistan and Mansehra to undertake proactive monitoring of vulnerable sites.
District administrations were 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 instructed local authorities to coordinate with the National Highways Authority (NHA), Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) and the Communication and Works Department to ensure the timely restoration of roads and bridges in the event of flood damage.
Authorities have been directed to take all necessary precautionary measures to minimise loss of life, livestock, crops and infrastructure as temperatures continue to fuel glacier melt across the country's northern mountains.