Flood Crisis in Gilgit-Baltistan: A Wake-Up Call for Climate Resilience
Gilgit-Baltistan is currently grappling with a severe flood emergency that has inundated multiple villages across Hunza, Nagar, and Gilgit districts.
The most devastating impact has been reported from Shakyote, a region in Gilgit that has never before experienced flooding of this scale. Thousands of kanals of agricultural land, standing crops, and homes have been swept away, leaving local communities homeless and desperate.The flood has hit areas traditionally considered safe, signaling a shift in hydrological patterns — possibly linked to changing climatic conditions, glacial melting, and erratic monsoon behavior.
The damage runs into crores of rupees, sparking urgent calls for the declaration of an official emergency across the region. Relief operations are underway, but slow response and inadequate coordination from district authorities, particularly the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Gilgit, have drawn sharp criticism from affected residents.
While no human casualties have been reported so far, the widespread destruction of livelihoods and infrastructure raises serious concerns about the region’s disaster preparedness. The flooding also highlights the vulnerability of mountain communities to climate-induced disasters, especially in regions like Gilgit-Baltistan, where steep terrain and fragile ecosystems amplify the impact of extreme weather events.
This crisis underscores the urgent need for early warning systems, sustainable land-use planning, and enhanced capacity of local disaster management authorities. Without immediate intervention and long-term adaptation strategies, such incidents could become the new normal — with devastating consequences for both people and the environment.
