PESHAWAR, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a KP GLOF alert for eight upper districts as warm weather and rainfall increase the risk of glacial flooding through September 4.
The advisory said higher temperatures, combined with intermittent rainfall from the night of August 31 to September 4, could accelerate glacier melting and raise water levels in glacial lakes.
The warning covers Upper Chitral, Lower Chitral, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Swat, Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan and Mansehra.
PDMA said rising lake levels could trigger sudden Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and powerful downstream water flows. It directed district administrations to remain alert and take precautionary measures in vulnerable areas.
Authorities must continuously monitor high-risk GLOF locations and quickly relay warnings to communities living in low-lying or potentially affected settlements.
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PDMA also instructed district administrations to conduct evacuation drills at sensitive sites and to prepare designated safe areas for residents in case of an emergency.
The authority urged residents and tourists in vulnerable mountainous areas to avoid unnecessary travel, camping and trekking near locations exposed to glacial flooding.
People should also keep away from rivers, streams, glacial lakes and narrow valleys while the heightened risk remains in effect, the advisory said.
