Two suspension bridges were washed away in a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) on Thursday near Arkari village in Chitral’s Garam Chashma area.
GLOFs are sudden events that can release millions of cubic meters of water and debris, causing loss of life, property and livelihoods among remote and impoverished mountain communities.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed the development, adding that teams have been sent to the area to help local people, who used bridges to cross the storm that was blowing below.
footage aired don news tv Fast-flowing flood waters are shown tearing through one of the bridges.
Rashid Khan, Focal Person of Chitral PDMA told don.com That there has been no loss of life or damage to any other infrastructure so far. However, the floods have damaged wheat and other fruit crops in the area.
The PDMA, Khan said, is in constant touch with the district administration and monitoring the situation in the area.
In a separate statement, PDMA DG Sharif Hussain said that the control room in the area is fully operational. “In case of any emergency or untoward incident, residents can call our helpline at 1700,” he added.
same as last month planning This happened when the Hasanabad bridge on the Karakoram Highway in Hunza was destroyed and washed away in a GLOF incident. Officials had said that the glaciers were melting due to the scorching heat.
In April, climate change minister Sherry Rahman said Warning Due to increase in regional temperature, there were chances of flood events and flash floods due to glacial lake break-up in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In an advisory note, the ministry had issued an official warning to the organizations concerned, drawing their attention to the possible occurrence of GLOF and flash floods in GB and KP regions, directing them to take precautionary action in an effective and time bound manner went. had gone. prevent any damage.
KP Heavy rain forecast in
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rains in the state from tomorrow. The rains are likely to continue till the first week of July.
The Meteorological Department said that moist currents from Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are likely to enter Pakistan which may intensify by the end of this week and spread over the southern parts of the country.
Under the influence of this system, rain-windstorm/thundershower is expected in Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Battagram, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, Orakzai, Kurram, Mohmand, and Bajaur.
Officials have been directed to take all precautionary measures and remain alert as heavy rains can lead to flash floods and landslides. The department has also advised tourists to be “extra cautious” during their travels and avoid unnecessary travel.