At least 200 people were rescued after a glacier exploded in Gilgit-Baltistan blocked the Ghizer River, threatening the subsequent areas, Decue 1122 said Friday.
A glacial explosion, or a flood of burst of the glacial lake (GLOF), refers to an outbreak of water from a glacial lake that could cause severe floods downstream, blocking or overwhelming rivers on their way. Pakistan houses more than 13,032 glaciers, the largest glacier deposit outside the polar regions. However, experts have warned that it has been reported that around 10,000 glaciers in Chitral and GB are going back due to the increase in temperature induced by climate change.
A 1122 rescue statement said: “200 people have been rescued from the areas affected by floods and have been transferred to the areas of Ghizer Yangal and Samal.”
“Several people have been traumatized later [their] The houses were destroyed. Medical assistance is being provided to affected people, ”he added.
In another statement issued today, Rescue 1122 said: “A terrible incident of glaciers burst has taken place in Tildas and Rawshan Villages in Gupis Valley late at night, causing generalized destruction in the River below.”
“The Ghizer River has been completely blocked for several hours, which has increased the risks of subsequent areas with the possibility of high level floods in the river,” he added.
The statement said the rescue staff had remained alert to the orders of the Director General of Rescue 1122 and the emergency engineer of the Rescue District 1122 Tahir Shah. The 1122 rescue also urged people who live near the river to take appropriate caution measures and move to safe places.
The secretary of GB, Fida Hussain, said that no victims were reported and that all affected people were safe.
“The flood swept everything in later areas in Talidas and Rawshan’s villages,” he said, adding that 40 people, who were stranded, had been rescued.
He added that local volunteers were the first to rescue people from the waters of the flood, after which the Pakistan army helicopters joined the operation.
“The high temperature caused an explosion of the lake and, ultimately, high floods occurred in the Nullah Sado on Wednesday night.
“Some shepherds informed the local community about flooding. People in dangerous areas were immediately transferred to other areas,” he said.
According to the locals, 80 percent of the village has been dragged. A place called Abdul Wahid said: “Some shepherds, who lived near the glacier, had informed people who lived in later areas through mobile communication on flood and urged them to evacuate.”
The local administration said that the Ghizer River, after remaining blocked for eight hours, began to spill on the debris of the flood.
GB government spokesman Faizullah Faraq said a rescue operation began to evacuate people stranded in the areas. He said: “The flow of the Ghizer River has remained blocked for many hours, but raises a threat to the low areas if it explodes.”
Ghulam Muhammad, Minister of Law of GB, parliamentary matters and tourism, said: “The flood, which occurred due to the explosion of the lake, completely destroyed 70 houses, while the river water is standing due to the debris of the flood, but the level is increasing.”
He said that if the river water flow is not restored, hundreds of large houses will submerge in the water. “The process of flooding in the drain due to the explosion of the lake has been ongoing since 10 pm.”
Muhammad also said that the river extended three to four kilometers long due to stagnant water.
“Some people are still trapped, for whom an army helicopter has been sent to rescue them. Luckily, trapped people will also be rescued,” he added.
GB Prime Minister Haji Gulbar Khan issued orders to the Secretary of the Interior of GB and General Director of the GB Disaster Management Authority to immediately rescue the people trapped in the flood.
The CM said: “All available resources will be used to rescue the beautiful human lives and help will be sought from the Pakistan army.”
He also addressed the Gilgit and Ghizer police officers and the concerned departments to guarantee security measures in the settlements adjacent to the river.
Special Assistant of CM About information Eman Shah said authorities have started initial relief and rescue activities. “Measures are being taken to change the people from the downstream areas of the Ghizer River to safer places for fear of the temporary lake formed in Ghizer’s explosion,” he said.
Earlier this month, a shishper glacier glof crossed Hassanabad Nullah, sweeping part of the Karakoram road and destroying public and private properties.
A glacier broke out in the Bagrot Valley caused the death of a person on August 1, while his father was injured, according to the regional government spokesman.
