🕒 Last updated on August 11, 2025
A massive glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) has struck Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB), leaving a trail of destruction in its path.
Floods triggered by melting glaciers cause widespread destruction
The disaster began when water from the Shishper Glacier burst through Hassanabad Nullah, sweeping away a section of the Karakoram Highway and cutting off the main road link for large parts of Hunza.
The powerful surge of water destroyed homes, farmland, and infrastructure. Agricultural land was submerged, trees were uprooted, and water channels supplying nearby villages were damaged. For many families, the destruction was overwhelming, with cracks appearing in homes and dozens of houses now standing dangerously close to the eroded riverbanks.
Local communities reported that the floodwaters, which had been temporarily blocked for about an hour, built up with tremendous force before breaking through. Protective walls could not withstand the impact, and irrigation systems collapsed under the pressure. In Hassanabad, several homes were dismantled in a desperate attempt to save them from the advancing waters.
This is not the first such event in recent weeks. A similar GLOF occurred last month, damaging homes and large stretches of farmland. Experts say that unusually high temperatures have caused rapid glacier melt this year, increasing the risk of such disasters.
Multiple valleys cut off and water supplies destroyed
The devastation was not limited to Hunza. In the Nagar district, flash floods driven by melting ice tore through Supultar Nullah in Nagar Khas. The raging waters blocked the Hoper Valley road, severing access to a well-known tourist spot. Bridges were destroyed, and the road to Hisper Valley in Tokorkot village was washed away, leaving several homes in danger.
In Hunza’s Shimshal Valley, swelling river levels damaged the only access road to the area. The protective walls that shielded the road from water damage were badly hit, making travel nearly impossible.
These disasters have also created a severe water crisis across PoGB. Irrigation and drinking-water systems, already damaged by earlier floods and cloudbursts, were further wrecked by the latest floods. Entire communities now face acute shortages of clean water. Thousands of people in certain areas are without access to drinking water, and farmers are witnessing the drying up of their fruit trees and crops.
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The destruction of irrigation channels has brought agricultural activity to a standstill in affected areas. Volunteers have stepped in to help repair damaged systems, but the scale of the destruction has made restoration slow and difficult.
Heatwaves and glacier melt intensify disaster risks
Unusually high temperatures and repeated heatwaves have been reported across Gilgit-Baltistan this year. This extreme heat accelerates the melting of glaciers, which feed rivers and streams in the region. When meltwater builds up behind ice or debris dams, it can suddenly burst through, causing a GLOF.
In the latest incident, the temporary blockage of water flow from the Shishper Glacier allowed a huge volume of water to accumulate. Once released, it surged through valleys with unstoppable force. In just a short span of time, it tore apart roads, bridges, farmland, and water systems.
Significant damage was done to the Karakoram Highway, which is an important commerce route and road that connects settlements. With the main route blocked, traffic had to be diverted through smaller roads like the Sas Valley Road from Murtazabad. However, these alternative routes are not equipped to handle heavy traffic and long-term detours.
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The scale of the damage in Hassanabad has left many without shelter. More than 50 houses are now at risk due to the eroding riverbanks. Families have been forced to dismantle their own homes to prevent them from collapsing into the floodwaters. In other villages, residents remain on high alert, fearing that more floods could come without warning.
The situation has been made worse by the fact that recent restoration projects for earlier flood damage had not yet been completed. Many communities were still struggling to recover when the new wave of destruction hit.