World News | Negligence by Pakistani authorities leaves locals in Gilgit-Baltistan stranded in floods

Gilgit Baltistan [Pakistan]26th September (ANI): Locals in Hopeer nullah district of Nagar district of Gilgit Baltistan complain that despite recent unprecedented floods, not a single official went to the area to determine the extent of the disaster, leaving People in downstream areas are at risk of possible flash floods.

They said the open channel used to flood occasionally during the summer peak in August, but this time, the creek remained flooded from July 22 to August 30 — a phenomenon attributed to the GLOF event . According to Dawn, on July 22, the stream overflowed and washed away houses and infrastructure.

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Floods in Shaman, Tokolkot, Hatchi, Ratal and Hakarshar villages in Nagar district washed away at least 12 houses, schools, planted crops, 40 irrigation and canals, trees , 600 Kanal farmlands and bridges.

According to Dawn, GB Environmental Protection Agency director Shahzad Shigri said record rainfall and sudden heatwaves in the region this year have led to a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) event in the region.

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In response, community representative Abbas Musavi said the government as well as private organisations had ignored their community’s vulnerability to GLOF.

“The local government didn’t even bother to declare it a GLOF event or send experts to assess the cause of the disaster,” he added.

Without an early warning system, he said, thousands of people living along the open channel wondered if more flooding could happen in the future. “They’ve been at the mercy of the flood,” he added.

Abid Hussain of the area said: “After the first flood, people started rebuilding damaged infrastructure, including irrigation canals. However, on August 3, the open channel flooded again and the flash flood caught the volunteers by surprise. They barely saved them. life,” he said, calling it a miracle. However, Dawn reported that one of the volunteers was injured.

Gilgit-Baltistan has more than 5,000 glaciers and countless glacial lakes; some of them have been declared “most dangerous,” according to the Met Office. Large numbers of people living next to these streams are at risk of flooding. At least 17 residents have been killed in flooding in the Ghizer district this year.

A resident in the area complained, “Winter is coming, but the government has not arranged alternative shelters for the displaced.” He added that repairs to irrigation channels and other infrastructure have not yet started, Dawn reported.

Since June this year, Pakistan has experienced severe monsoon weather, leading to a severe humanitarian and development crisis.

According to government estimates, around 33 million people across the country have been affected by persistent torrential rains and flooding – the worst in decades.

Millions of acres of crops and orchards—many of which are ready for harvest—have been damaged and destroyed, threatening the next planting season. Agriculture is an important source of livelihood for most households in Pakistan as well as for the country’s economy.

Pakistan has a total of 160 districts. So far, half of the country has been declared a “catastrophic attack”. This number is expected to increase. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from the Syndicated News feed, the body of the content may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)