NDMA issues alert as rapid glacier melt triggers floods across GB

Gilgit-Baltistan faces a deepening crisis as rapid glacier melting intensifies, leading to widespread damage across the region. Rising temperatures are sharply increasing the volume and speed of water and mudflows in rivers and streams, inundating downstream areas.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (Glof) alert on Wednesday for the Hoper and Hisper valleys in Nagar district. This warning highlights the immediate danger posed by unstable glacial lakes that could burst, releasing large volumes of water and debris.

Authorities are actively responding to the escalating situation, which is further compounded by an ongoing heatwave across Gilgit-Baltistan. The combination of extreme heat and melting glaciers presents a significant challenge for disaster management and local communities. Workers were seen pulling a power pylon out of a river in Ghanche district, illustrating the direct impact of the floods.