At risk: Rising water levels raise alarm in G-B

Environmentalists say floods similar to 2010 possible if volume of rain increases.

GILGIT: Threatening to inundate low-lying areas, water levels have risen to alarming levels in rivers and lakes of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B).

In Gilgit, water entered houses in Chamogarh Colony and other residential areas downstream as Gilgit River’s embankments gave way on Thursday.

“We constantly fear inundation,” said Itman, a resident of Chamogarh Colony, an area alongside the river. “We stay on duty at night so we can order evacuations if a flood comes.” Additionally, there have also been reports of rivers in Skardu and Astore flooding.

In G-B, increasing temperatures have caused glaciers to melt which in turn increases water levels, triggering flash floods. Water levels in several lakes and rivers have been increasing since May due to this causality, threatening lives and property throughout the region. In response, the disaster management authority has been directed to take steps to counter any potential state of emergency.



Meanwhile, traffic was suspended on Basin Road as the RCC Bridge over Kargah Nullah, which was damaged by a flash flood recently, remained unrepaired.

“The bridge has been saved from total collapse by engineers from the Frontier Works Organisation, who are working on it day in and day out,” stated a press note issued by the organisation’s information cell. The water also swept away electricity polls, disconnecting power to several areas.

Environmentalists claim floods similar to the ones in 2010 may hit G-B once again if the volume of monsoon rain increases. “The level of water has already increased to an alarming height and if monsoon rains come at this moment it may cause considerable damage in G-B once again,” said Nafees Ahmad, a professor at Gilgit’s Karakoram University.

In 2010, severe flooding devastated infrastructure in G-B, washing away more than 300 small bridges and roads in addition to claiming nearly 200 lives.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2013.