Flash floods caused by the melting glacier have resulted in significant damage along the Burgi nullah in Skardu, impacting over two dozen homes, hundreds of acres of land, crops, and trees. This has forced the evacuation of several households to safer areas.
An official from the district administration informed Dawn that the flood in the nullah caused widespread panic and extensive damage to private properties. Fortunately, there have been no reports of human casualties.
The flooding has severely affected multiple villages along the Burgi nullah, damaging water supply and irrigation channels, which has disrupted access to water for local residents.
Local sources report that numerous families are now homeless due to their houses being damaged by floodwaters. Additionally, water has entered more than twenty homes, exacerbating the destruction.
Residents are urging authorities to implement protective measures to mitigate future disasters. They demand immediate government action to prevent floods from entering residential and agricultural areas, along with calls for resettlement and compensation for the losses incurred.
One affected individual lamented, “The flood has devastated my home and all my possessions. My cultivated lands, crops, and trees have also been destroyed. I’ve lost everything I relied on for a livelihood.”
In response, Skardu’s Deputy Commissioner, Sami Khan, expressed regret over illegal encroachments into nullahs for building homes and structures, which have obstructed natural water flow and redirected floodwaters. He warned of impending actions against those responsible for encroachments, with plans to demolish illegal constructions.
Water levels in several nullahs and rivers across Gilgit-Baltistan have risen during the current heatwave, heightening the risk of floods and glacial lake outburst floods.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued a warning to the administrations of five northern districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa about heightened risks of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), flash floods, and landslides due to ongoing high temperatures and an expected rain spell.
The advisory highlighted that persistent above-average temperatures, coupled with anticipated rainfall from July 6 to 8 in the upper regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, increase the likelihood of GLOFs, flash floods, landslides, and elevated river flows due to glacier melting. These warmer conditions are expected to persist until mid-July.
District administrations in Chitral Lower and Upper, Dir Upper, Swat, and Kohistan Upper were instructed by the PDMA to implement all necessary precautions to prevent loss of life, livestock, and damage to infrastructure and crops. They were urged to ensure the readiness of emergency and rescue personnel, as well as experts from relevant departments such as communication and works.
Authorities were also directed to equip themselves with emergency supplies for swift response in case of any emergencies. The advisory cautioned tourists to exercise caution and avoid traveling to vulnerable areas.
District administrations were further advised to coordinate closely with relevant agencies like the National Highway Authority, Frontier Works Organisation, and Communication and Works Department to promptly restore roads in the event of blockages, closures, or damage caused by floods or landslides.
According to official documents from the climate change ministry and forest department, the rapid melting of glaciers in Pakistan’s northern mountain ranges, including the Hindu Kush Himalayas and Karakoram, is attributed to rising temperatures.
