ISLAMABAD / PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Wednesday issued fresh Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) alerts for Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, warning of heightened risks of flash floods, landslides and casualties as monsoon rains continue to batter the northern regions.
The new alerts have triggered widespread concern in already vulnerable communities, with July rainfall reported at nearly 82 percent above last year’s levels. The PMD cautioned that scattered rains and isolated heavy downpours are expected in the coming days, especially in glaciated valleys of Gilgit Baltistan and in KP’s Kumrat and Dir districts.
Disaster management agencies have been advised to stay on high alert, while tourists and locals have been urged to avoid travel to high-risk areas until conditions stabilize.
The warning comes as the country grapples with recent tragedies caused by torrential rains. In Gilgit Baltistan’s Babusar Valley last week, sudden flash floods swept away tourists and vehicles, killing at least six people and leaving several missing. Landslides in Chilas, Skardu and adjoining valleys stranded more than 200 tourists after blocking major routes, including sections of the Karakoram Highway.
According to official figures, over 260 people have lost their lives nationwide since late June due to floods, landslides and other rain-related incidents, with Gilgit Baltistan and KP the worst hit.
Climate experts warn that rapid glacier melt combined with intense cloudbursts has swollen dozens of unstable glacial lakes, heightening the risk of catastrophic GLOF events. Pakistan faced similar climate-driven devastation in 2022, when historic floods claimed more than 1,700 lives.
The Gilgit Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in KP have placed emergency teams, including Rescue 1122, on high alert.
“Any unnecessary movement into flood-prone valleys could put lives at serious risk,” a senior disaster management official cautioned.
The PDMA has directed tourist guides to restrict visitors from entering high-risk sites in Chitral, Mansehra, Lower Dir, Upper Dir and surrounding areas. Authorities have reiterated the need for strict public cooperation to prevent further loss of life as the monsoon enters its most critical phase.
