MET warns of more flash floods if heatwave continues

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has signalled a warning that the country could face more flash floods triggered by a glacier lake outburst flooding (GLOF) similar to the one which wreaked havoc in the northwest district of Chitral, if the heatwave continues, reported The News.

Manzoor Ahmad, an MET official from the district told Xinhua that the department has predicted more glaciers could burst and cause floods if the prevailing heatwave continued in the area.

According to Ahmad, a flash flood triggered by a GLOF hit Golen Gol valley in Chitral on Monday and destroyed crops, several homes, a water supply system and a powerhouse.

"The valley's highland has 10 glaciers, which are hypersensitive and can explode anytime. We have observed and are receiving continuous reports from locals from the concerning areas that the glaciers are melting speedily due to ongoing hot weather," he said, adding that locals have already started moving to safe places.

The sudden flood with a high current of water washed away four bridges and the three-kilometre long portion of the only road connecting the valley with other area and left more than 500 families stranded in the mountains.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Hayat Shah told the media that nobody can enter or leave the valley because it was disconnected from other areas and only a helicopter can reach the stranded people.

Earlier in June, the MET office had issued a warning about the possible glacial outburst in the region after a flood caused by the same had destroyed a couple of villages in Hunza district of Gilgit-Baltistan region in the north of Pakistan.