A massive glacier burst in Gilgit Baltistan’s (G-B) Ghizer district has unleashed devastating floods, sweeping away villages, blocking the Ghizer River, and displacing hundreds of residents. At least 70 houses have been destroyed, while 200 people were rescued from the worst hit areas, officials confirmed on Friday.
The outburst, which occurred at Tali Das in the Gupis area on Wednesday night, blocked the Ghizer River and created a seven kilometre long artificial lake. Rescue 1122 reported that traumatised villagers were provided emergency medical support, as fears grew of further flooding downstream.
The deluge struck Tildas and Rawshan villages, flattening homes and farmland. Witnesses described the devastation as “biblical,” with nearly 80 percent of one settlement washed away. Although the river eventually began spilling over the debris after eight hours, authorities warned that a sudden breach could still flood low-lying areas.
G-B government spokesperson Faizullah Firaq confirmed that a large-scale rescue operation was underway, supported by the Pakistan Army. Law and Tourism Minister Ghulam Muhammad stated that while 70 houses had been destroyed, “hundreds more could be submerged if the blockage is not cleared.” An army helicopter was deployed to evacuate trapped families.
According to Fida Hussain, Secretary to the G-B government, no casualties had been reported so far. He praised local volunteers who rushed to save villagers before rescue teams arrived. Officials linked the disaster to soaring temperatures that triggered the glacial lake outburst, causing massive flooding in the Sado nullah.
Chief Rescue Officer Engineer Tahir Shah said his teams remained on high alert and urged residents in vulnerable areas to move to safer ground as the swollen river continued to pose a grave risk.
This catastrophe follows weeks of flash floods across G-B, which have already caused an estimated Rs30 billion in damages, leaving thousands without clean water, electricity, and road access. Since July, at least 39 people, including tourists, have died in rain-related incidents.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned of another spell of heavy rainfall from August 23 to 27 in Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar, raising the threat of landslides and mudslides cutting off vital road links.
Experts say glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are becoming more frequent in northern Pakistan, home to over 13,000 glaciers the largest concentration outside the polar regions. Just earlier this month, a GLOF from the Shishper Glacier washed away a section of the Karakoram Highway in Hassanabad, while another in Bagrot Valley killed one person and injured his father.
For the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, every fresh outburst is not just a natural disaster but a reminder of living on the edge of climate change, where life unfolds in constant uncertainty under the looming shadow of melting glaciers.
