200 people rescued as glacier burst blocks river in GB’s Ghizer district

GILGIT: Over 200 people were rescued after a glacial lake outburst triggered a flash flood in the Ghizer district of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), resulting in the creation of an artificial lake on the Ghizer River.

In a statement, the GB Information Department confirmed that a severe flood has hit the Raushen village after a glacier lake burst at the Tali Das stream.

“Over 200 people have been rescued from flood-affected areas and have been shifted to Ghizer’s Yangal and Samal areas,” according to Rescue 1122.

The water flow is prompting a fear of a possible flood in the region, while the public has been strictly warned against going near the river.

The relevant authorities have been standing on high alert in case of an emergency.

Deputy Commissioner Ghizer Habib ur Rehman said that heads of all relevant departments have been summoned to the site, while the DHO and medical teams are providing emergency medical assistance to the affected people.

“All 63 schools in the area have been safely evacuated, and the supply of drinking water has been ensured in the affected areas,” he said in a statement.

Considering the situation, the Gilgit District Administration has also issued a flood alert to the public as the Ghizer River has been blocked for several hours at Raushan in Gupis Valley.

“The river could burst at any moment, potentially causing a severe flood surge,” the administration said. 

The authorities have urged the residents of downstream areas to immediately move to safe locations and fully cooperate with the district administration.

Earlier, Faizullah Firaq, GB government spokesperson, said that the glacier erupted near Talidas in Ghizer’s Gupis Valley, resulting in a flash flood and devastation.

He said that numerous areas were flooded, resulting in significant financial losses. However, no human deaths have been reported so far.

Ghizer’s additional deputy commissioner stated that a landslide in Raushan, Tali Das, has entirely obstructed the flow of the Ghizer River since 3 a.m., with further settlements threatened by the flooding.

Authorities have also ordered that warning messages be transmitted over mosque loudspeakers and shared on social media to notify those who are at risk. Police have been urged to respond quickly in case of an emergency.