Heatwave Accelerates Glacier Melt in GB, Leading to Widespread Flooding

News Desk 

Gilgit: The recent heatwave in Gilgit-Baltistan has significantly accelerated the melting of glaciers, leading to rising water levels in rivers and streams. This has resulted in widespread flooding across the region.

Sources report that high water levels have caused extensive damage to main and link roads. The Karakoram Highway, in particular, has been affected in areas like Phusgo and Gojal, damaging nearby hotels and government buildings.

The meteorological department has issued warnings about the potential risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), which could threaten downstream settlements. In response, affected communities are urging the government to take immediate action to mitigate further damage from river erosion.

Gilgit-Baltistan is home to over 2,800 glacier lakes, many of which are situated in the Karakoram and Himalayan mountain ranges. These lakes often form when melting glaciers collect in natural basins behind barriers of rock and ice.

These glacier lakes are at risk of outbursts, known as GLOFs, when water levels become too high and the barriers fail. GLOFs can release large volumes of water in a matter of hours, causing catastrophic flooding downstream.

Attabad Lake is a notable example of a glacier lake with a significant risk of outburst. In 2010, a GLOF from Attabad Lake led to severe flooding and damage in the downstream Hunza Valley.

Other glacier lakes in Gilgit-Baltistan, such as Badswat Ishkomen Ghezer and Sishper Hunza, also pose similar risks. These lakes are increasingly vulnerable due to climate change, which is accelerating glacier melt and raising temperatures.

This situation underscores the urgent need for monitoring, mitigation, and adaptation strategies to protect downstream communities and infrastructure from the increasing risk of GLOFs.