Unprecedented Threat in Gilgit Baltistan: Melting Glaciers Cause Severe Floods

Passu and Shigar in Gilgit Baltistan are facing severe flooding due to glacier melt and heatwave, causing significant erosion and damage to settlements. Residents appeal for government intervention as the situation worsens, highlighting the urgent need for climate action and disaster preparedness.

The Passu and Shigar areas in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan are facing a severe threat from flooding caused by glacier melting and a heatwave, the Pamir Times reported. The rivers in these areas are flowing at alarming levels, severely eroding landscapes and endangering lives and properties.

Residents have experienced significant damage, with many homes and orchards destroyed. An elderly woman from Passu village expressed her distress as her family faced repeated displacements. 'Those areas used to be our orchards and fields, but the water has submerged them,' she lamented.

Aman Ullah, another affected resident, highlighted the historical significance of Passu. 'The river is now 20 feet from our homes, and many families have lost their lands and homes,' he said. Political activist Rehan Shah called on the government for immediate intervention, citing previous ignored warnings and the disappearance of entire villages due to erosion.

Climate experts have long warned about the effects of global warming on the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges. The current situation underscores the urgent need for comprehensive climate action and disaster preparedness strategies in the region.