The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has raised an alert for potential floods across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) amid concerns over glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) in the province’s northern districts. This warning comes as a severe heatwave continues to affect the region, accelerating the melting of glaciers and snow in the mountainous areas.
Forecasts indicate that the upper districts of KP will experience rainfall starting the evening of June 4. The combination of this precipitation and the rapid glacier melt significantly increases the risk of gully and flash floods in these vulnerable zones.
Additionally, the northern districts face heightened threats of flash floods and landslides due to the unstable terrain and weather conditions. In response, PDMA has alerted the deputy commissioners of Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, and Mansehra to prepare for possible emergencies.
Local administrations have been instructed to proactively warn residents living in low-lying areas and to maintain active community alert systems to ensure timely evacuation if necessary. Continuous monitoring of sensitive locations is mandated to facilitate prompt warnings in high-risk areas.
Both citizens and tourists are advised to avoid riverbanks and storm drains and to limit non-essential travel during this period. Emergency services, including Rescue 1122 and other relevant agencies, have been directed to remain on high alert to respond swiftly to any incidents arising from these hazardous conditions.
