Islamabad: As torrential monsoon rains continue to pound Pakistan, claiming over 220 lives in just a few weeks, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Tuesday issued a fresh Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) alert for Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, warning of a heightened risk of flash floods and landslides due to persistent wet spells and glacial melt.
According to the alert issued by the PMD’s Research and Development Division, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are expected to continue in the country’s northern glaciated regions during the current week, significantly increasing the risk of GLOF events in vulnerable valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan and parts of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The warning comes in continuation of an earlier alert issued on July 15, highlighting the growing concern over climate-induced disasters exacerbated by extreme weather patterns.
“All concerned are advised to remain alert and take necessary measures to avoid any untoward situation,” the PMD stated, urging the authorities to activate emergency response mechanisms in at-risk districts.
The alert coincides with the country’s devastating monsoon season, which has so far killed at least 221 people and injured 592 since late June, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Dozens of families have been displaced, homes destroyed, and entire communities cut off by rising water levels and landslides.
Punjab has been the worst hit, with 135 fatalities and over 470 injuries, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 46 deaths. Sindh and Balochistan have reported 22 and 16 deaths respectively, while isolated incidents have been recorded in Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, and the federal capital. The NDMA data shows that more than 800 houses have been damaged or completely destroyed across the country.
The relentless rainfall has also triggered deadly flash floods in mountainous areas. Last week, at least three tourists were swept away near Chilas in Gilgit-Baltistan, while over 200 others remained stranded after landslides blocked access roads. Authorities fear further casualties if rains persist and glacial lakes continue to swell.
Experts have linked the intensifying weather extremes to climate change, warning that Pakistan is facing a repeat of its catastrophic 2022 flood season, which left over 1,700 people dead and a third of the country underwater. With over 7,000 glaciers, Pakistan is one of the most glacier-rich countries outside the polar regions, making it acutely vulnerable to GLOF events, especially in the summer monsoon months when high temperatures accelerate glacial melting.
The Meteorological Department has asked the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority and Provincial Disaster Management Authority in KP to activate early warning systems and prepare evacuation plans for at-risk valleys. Local communities are being advised to avoid travel near rivers, stay away from landslide-prone slopes, and report any unusual water movement or sounds from glacial streams.
Rescue 1122 and emergency services have been put on alert in northern districts, while the NDMA has started dispatching relief goods and flood contingency supplies to affected regions. However, access remains a major challenge in remote valleys where roads have been washed away or blocked by landslides.
Climate experts have once again called for urgent investments in climate-resilient infrastructure, better glacier monitoring systems, and stronger coordination between federal and provincial disaster management bodies to mitigate future tragedies.
With rain expected to continue through the end of July, the threat is far from over. Authorities fear the toll could rise further if preparedness measures are not reinforced immediately in light of the ongoing GLOF risks and intensifying monsoon pressure.
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