In brief
In the Hunza Valley, glacial lake outbursts have caused extensive damage, leaving residents anxious about their homes and future.
In a once green paradise cradled within the monumental Karakorum mountains, 18-year-old Komal’s life altered dramatically when a sudden flood sent boulders and debris racing down the valley due to the bursting of an upstream glacial lake. What began as a tranquil day turned into chaos when her teacher announced the collapse of the bridge connecting the village. Komal returned to find her community in distress, rapidly evacuating belongings before their homes collapsed under the relentless water. Two years on, the devastation remains palpable. The village of Hassanabad now lies in a desolate state, with remnants of homes strewn across a grey landscape that once flourished with gardens and orchards. Climate change is reshaping the environment in Gilgit-Baltistan, an area recognized for its vast glaciers, now threatened with perilous consequences. According to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, if emissions continue unchecked, Himalayan glaciers could lose two-thirds of their volume by the century's end.More than 48,000 individuals in Gilgit-Baltistan and neighboring Chitral regions face high risks of lake bursts or landslides, prompting relocations for some villages like Badswat. Deedar Karim of the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat emphasizes that the rising temperatures are leading to more intense natural disasters, rewriting the region’s weather patterns and amplifying infrastructure hazards. Yet, uprooting families who have lived in the region for centuries presents its challenges. Zubair Ahmed, assistant director of the Disaster Management Authority, notes the scarcity of safe places to relocate residents, stressing the urgency of addressing these climate-related threats. “If we don't act now, survival will be extremely difficult in the years to come,” he warns. In the face of potential disasters, communities are organizing preparedness drills, like those conducted by volunteer emergency responders in Passu, illustrating the proactive measures undertaken to train locals in evacuation and rescue operations. Emergency volunteer Ijaz, reflecting on changes in weather patterns from just five years ago, admits the unpredictability today is unsettling. With early warning systems emerging in limited valleys, the effort to mitigate risks continues but requires further resources. Local residents like Sultan Ali feel a growing helplessness, contemplating the reality that another flood could obliterate their homes. As he sits with his granddaughters under the shade of a pear tree, there’s a grim acknowledgment of their fate, devoid of options.Komal shares similar sentiments regarding their uncertain future, realizing that even though they might have to leave their beloved home, alternatives remain elusive. “We have no other place to go. Only this,” she reflects, holding onto the hope and memories of a land that is changing before her very eyes.
