Bridge collapses in Hunza after glacial floods

GILGIT: A bridge on the Karakoram Highway was swept away by a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) from the Shishper Glacier in Hunza.

The RCC bridge constructed in Hassanabad village of Hunza Valley collapsed due to water flow from a glacial flood outburst. However, no casualty or other property damage was reported. Police said that relief activities have been started following the incident.

Gilgit-Baltistan tourist police added that traffic had been diverted to an alternate route on the Sas Valley Road. Footage shared on social media showed rampaging floodwaters tearing and sweeping away a section of the bridge.

Hunza Superintendent Police (SP) said the glacier had started melting on Saturday due to heatwave and caused a flood that damaged the bridge. He said tourists were facing difficulties and had been provided alternate routes through Ganish and Murtazabad.

He said that families near the nullah were shifted to safer places and the entire administration, including the police and rescue services, were on alert due to the emergency situation.

Chief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani said that the National Highway Authority (NHA) and Frontier Works Organisation assured him that the bridge would be repaired as a matter of urgency.

#Shishper glacial lake outburst flood in #Hunza has damaged an important bridge on #KKH at #Hassanabad.

The light transport/traffic has been diverted to alternate route on SAS Valley Road but heavy transport vehicles are not allowed.

For further information dial 1422. pic.twitter.com/9eeqBUzRuH

— Tourist Police Gilgit-Baltistan (@GBPolice1422) May 7, 2022

NDMA threat alert

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had already issued an early threat alert for glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and directed the quarters concerned to ensure proper preparedness and precautionary measures.

In an advisory, it said as per the alert issued by Pakistan Meteorological department, temperature in the northern areas is expected to remain 5°C to 7°C higher than normal in the next 5 to 6 days, creating heatwave.

Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman has called upon the home departments, provincial disaster management authorities and provincial teams of PMD to take precautionary actions in an effective manner to mitigate against possible GLOF events and flash floods.

GLOF are sudden events which can release millions of cubic metres of water and debris, leading to the loss of lives, property and livelihoods among remote and impoverished mountain communities.

According to statement by the ministry, there has been a climatic shift in the region which has led to an increase in GLOF events and flash floods due to increases in regional temperature.