Lake emerges after glacier burst in northern Pakistan, posing severe flood risk

A glacial outburst in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Ghizer District has triggered a severe flood threat after a massive landslide blocked the flow of the Ghizer River, creating a temporary dam and forming a growing lake in the Rawshan area.

The landslide, caused by the glacier’s collapse, has already inflicted significant financial losses, damaging agricultural land and sweeping away livestock and irrigation infrastructure critical to local livelihoods.

While no fatalities have been reported, locals warn the situation remains critical as the continuing instability of the mountainside poses the risk of further landslides.

What’s at risk

The newly formed lake has raised fears of catastrophic flooding if it suddenly breaches, threatening Rawshan and surrounding villages.

A surge of water from such a breach could inundate dozens of settlements along the river, from Rawshan to Gilgit city, including Ghizer’s district headquarters, Gahkuch. Residents have been advised to remain on high alert, with many already moving essential belongings to safer areas.

In response, the Gilgit-Baltistan government has issued a high alert for communities living near the Ghizer River and deployed emergency teams to the region.

The Pakistan Army has also launched relief operations in Rawshan, where the impact has been most severe.

A newly formed lake in Ghizer after a glacial collapse.Nukta

Talking to Nukta, provincial government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq said Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan had departed for Ghizer to oversee the situation.

“The chief minister is visiting the affected regions on an emergency basis to meet victims, offer condolences to bereaved families, and review ongoing relief operations,” he said. “The Ghizer administration will also brief him on the scale of flood-related destruction.”

Faraq added that relief efforts have been intensified under the Chief Minister’s directives. “Tents, blankets, food supplies, and medicines have already been delivered to the affected villages, while the Disaster Management Authority, Rescue 1122, police, and local administration are actively engaged in relief work,” he noted.

Although officials report that the river’s flow has started to partially resume, the threat is far from over as sporadic landslides continue to endanger the area.