Global warming and climate change is affecting Gilgit Baltistan adversely. The most prone to disaster due to climate change is Gilgit Baltistan.
Gilgit baltistan is the home of hundreds of glaciers that are melting so rapidly. GLOF (Glacier lake outburst flood) is one of the major contributors to disaster in GB. In the last two months, more than 20 large and small-scale floods reported in Gilgit Baltistan. Few out of many are listed below:
District Diamer, Gilgit Baltistan
Diamer July 14, 2022: A small village of Diamer, Kambri damaged completely due to a heavy flood. The disastrous flood-affected habitats are helpless, disaster management department is absent from the scene.
The video clip of two small girls stranded went viral on social media, which was from the Kambri village of Diamer.
Diamer July 7, 2022: A heavy flood damaged more than 50% of crops and a huge number of cattle drowned. The affected region by this flood is Yashoot valley, Darel Chilas.
District Ghizer, Gilgit Baltistan
Ghizer July 8, 2022: A bridge was drowned in the river. Which connects Darkot valley with Yasin Ghizer. The only means of transportation flushes off by a flood.
Ghizer July 6, 2022: After cats and dogs in Shaer Qilla, a flash flood washed out the crops of the whole valley. Such rain was never witnessed before. Due to global warming, everything is abruptly changing in Gilgit Baltistan.
Ghizer July 5, 2022: a flash flood in Ghizer took the life of more than four people and left homeless many. It was the disastrous flood in Gilgit Baltistan this summer. A heavy rain results in form of a flash flood in Ghizer. An emergency was declared first time in Gilgit Baltistan due to this flash flood.
District Ghanche, Gilgit Baltistan
Ghanche June 28, 2022: flash flood hits a public transport van of NATCO in Sino valley of Ghanche. The vehicle was completely damaged.
Ghanche July 6, 2022: Kundus valley was hit by a GLOF (glacier lake outburst flood). No life loss was reported.
Skardu July 5, 2022: A heavy flood in Staq Nala Skardu blocked the only road to Skardu for more than 2 days. This year, Skardu road remained blocked for traffic for most of the time due to floods.
Nagar July 7, 2022: Bard valley Nagar hits by a huge GLOF. This was one of the biggest floods in the region this summer. A huge volume of property vanished. Fortunately, no life loss was reported. Climate change is getting worsen day by day in Gilgit Baltistan.
Haramosh Gilgit July 10, 2022: a deadly stream of flood demolished everything that came under the way. Many peoples became homeless after the flood.
A may bridge located at Haramosh valley vanished after the natural disaster.
Bagrot Gilgit July 9, 2022: A GLOF (Glacier lake outburst flood) hits a small valley of Bagrot. Blash valley of Bagrot is home to many small glaciers which are melting down at a very high speed. There’s no life lost reported from the GLOF in Bagrot.
Roundu Skardu July 8, 2022: another deadly GLOF in Tormik Roundu damages the property of millions. No life loss was reported. It was one of the biggest floods of the season in the Baltistan division of Gilgit Baltistan.
Small steps to overthrow climate change issue
The reactive behavior of authorities makes the region more prone to such disasters.
All we need is a collective proactive approach to tackle this challenge. There’s no synergy between local bodies and government institutions. The conflict of approach needs to be resolved to fight against this challenge.
A few small steps that can be taken by today to slow down the anger of climate effects in GB are:
1- Discourage the use of smoke-producing vehicles, which are increasing day by day.
2- Planting more and more trees.
3- Use of decomposable waste instead of plastic and other environment unfriendly items.
4- Promote sustainable tourism instead of making it only a money-making machine. The nature of Gilgit Baltistan is at risk.
