NDMA issues alert as rapid glacier melt triggers floods across GB

WORKERS pull out a power pylon that fell into the river in Ghanche district.—Photo by the writer GILGIT: Rapid glacier melting has deepened the crisis in Gilgit-Baltistan, with rising temperatures sharply increasing water discharge and mudflow in rivers and streams, causing widespread damage in downstream areas. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Wednesday is-sued a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (Glof) alert for the Hoper and Hisper valleys in Nagar district. Authorities said the ongoing heatwave across Gilgit-Baltistan has accelerated glacier melt, leading to swelling rivers and streams. Floods and mudslides damaged link roads, bridges, electricity infrastructure, agricultural land and public and private property in several remote areas. KKH blocked, many roads and bridges damaged as heatwave accelerates melting of glaciers According to the district ad­­ministration, rising water levels in streams and rivers in Gha­­nche district damaged sev­­eral link roads and bridges. A suspension bridge over the Hushe Nallah was submerged, cutting off access for local com­munities. Flooding also blo­­ck­­ed the Siachen, Chorbat and Ghowari roads, although the Sia­chen and Chorbat roads were later reopened temporarily. Deputy Commissioner Ghanche Waliullah Fallahi said the situation was under control and heavy machinery had been deployed to restore damaged roads and bridges. A flash flood also blocked the Karakoram Highway (KKH) at the Ghoor Hill section near the Khunjerab Pass on the Pakistan-China border, disrupting cross-border traffic. Police said a large number of passengers, including domestic and foreign tourists, as well as cargo vehicles, remained stranded for several hours before traffic was restored. In Ghizer district, flooding damaged homes, crops and link roads in Matramdan village in Ishkoman valley and disrupted electricity supply. Authorities also expressed concern over the rising water level in an artificial lake formed by last year’s floods, fe