Severe flooding triggered by water discharge and soil erosion from the Hunza Shisper Glacier has wreaked havoc in the region, cutting off the Karakoram Highway (KKH) and isolating communities in Gilgit-Baltistan.
According to local officials, the flooding has completely blocked the vital KKH, disrupting Pakistan-China trade and halting all local transportation. The administration has arranged an alternative link road for small vehicles, but heavy traffic remains stranded.
Homes and farmland destroyed
In Hassanabad, floodwaters from the glacier’s outflow have submerged residential houses that were evacuated earlier by the authorities. A hotel was damaged, and hundreds of trees have been washed away. Agricultural land in Hunza and Shigar has also been destroyed, dealing a heavy blow to local farmers.
Faizullah Faraq, spokesperson for the Gilgit-Baltistan government, confirmed that floodwaters have also reached Shigar in Baltistan, damaging fields, standing crops, and water channels. “Gilgit-Baltistan is under the worst flood disaster,” he said, adding that more than 50 labourers narrowly escaped the rising waters.
Infrastructure and communication hit
The flood has not only destroyed houses and farmland but also damaged electricity poles and fibre optic lines, disrupting communication services in affected areas. Large boulders and landslides continue to fall on the Silk Road, creating further hazards for rescue operations.
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The KKH at Hunza remains blocked, leaving passengers stranded. Authorities have pledged to begin road rehabilitation work soon.
Relief efforts underway
The Gilgit-Baltistan government has directed the Hunza administration to intensify relief operations. Volunteers who attempted to repair water channels under dangerous conditions miraculously survived.
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Meanwhile, locals continue to face shortages of supplies, as access to the region remains severely restricted. The situation is being closely monitored, but with the glacier discharge still ongoing, the risk of further flooding remains high.
