Gilgit-Baltistan — A sudden glacier burst in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan region unleashed destructive flooding late Wednesday night, blocking the Ghizer River and sending shockwaves of panic through downstream villages, reported by Dawn News. Officials said at least 200 people were rescued in an operation led by Rescue 1122, supported by local volunteers and Pakistan Army helicopters. No casualties have been reported.
The disaster unfolded in the remote Gupis Valley, where glacial lake outburst floods — known as GLOFs — have become increasingly common amid rising temperatures. Rescue officials said the floodwaters swept through Talidas and Rawshan villages, washing away homes and farmland. Gilgit-Baltistan Law Minister Ghulam Muhammad confirmed that at least 70 houses were destroyed, while villagers estimate up to 80 percent of their settlements have been obliterated.
For nearly eight hours, the Ghizer River remained completely dammed by debris, raising fears of an even larger catastrophe should the temporary blockade collapse. “The river water is standing and the level is rising,” Muhammad warned, noting that hundreds of houses downstream could be inundated. By Friday, the river had begun spilling over, though emergency teams remain on high alert.
Rescue 1122 spokespersons reported that traumatised survivors are being relocated to safer grounds in Yangal and Samal. Medical aid is being provided to the displaced, while helicopters continue to scour remote areas for stranded families. GB Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan directed disaster management authorities to mobilize “all available resources,” calling in army support to evacuate those still trapped.
Locals say the alarm was first raised by shepherds who witnessed the glacier burst in the Sado nullah. Their phone calls to families downstream allowed residents to flee in time, preventing loss of life. “Some shepherds informed people living in dangerous areas through mobile communication and urged them to evacuate,” said Abdul Wahid, a survivor.
Pakistan, home to over 13,000 glaciers — the largest concentration outside the polar regions — has been experiencing an alarming increase in GLOFs. Experts warn that around 10,000 glaciers in Gilgit-Baltistan and neighboring Chitral are rapidly retreating due to climate change. Earlier this month, a similar outburst from the Shishper Glacier swept away parts of the Karakoram Highway, while another flood in Bagrot Valley killed one man and injured his father.
Authorities have begun shifting residents from low-lying settlements along the Ghizer River amid fears the temporary lake could give way. Special Assistant to the CM Eman Shah said relief efforts are underway but warned: “If the water bursts through, downstream communities could face devastating floods.”
