Gilgit-Baltistan Floods 2025 – Devastation, Government Response & Climate Crisis

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Published: July 12, 2025 | By: Flash Global News Team

The scenic mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan have turned into a disaster zone as devastating floods ripped through the region in July 2025. Triggered by a deadly combination of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and record-breaking monsoon rains, the natural calamity has left thousands homeless and villages submerged under water and mud.

📍 Where Did the Floods Hit the Hardest?

According to the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA), the most severely affected areas include:

Hunza Valley – Entire villages evacuated
Skardu – Roads destroyed, isolation of districts
Astore and Ghizer – Livestock and crops lost
Shigar and Gupis-Yasin – Houses swept away in flash floods

Initial reports confirm 27 deaths, 80+ injuries, and the destruction of over 2,300 homes across various districts. The floodwaters have also cut off major routes connecting GB to other parts of Pakistan.

🌊 What Caused the Gilgit-Baltistan Floods?

This year's floods are largely attributed to two major environmental factors:

1. Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)

As global temperatures rise, glaciers in the Karakoram and Himalayas are melting at an alarming rate. The melting creates large glacial lakes, which can suddenly burst and cause floods. This is the 4th GLOF in Gilgit-Baltistan reported this year.

2. Record Monsoon Rainfall

In July 2025, GB received over 130 mm of rain in just 5 days—nearly 200% more than average for this period. With unstable terrain and unplanned construction, the region became highly vulnerable to landslides and floods.

🏚️ Humanitarian Impact – Displacement and Suffering

The floods have displaced over 18,000 people. Relief camps have been set up in areas like Gilgit city, Jaglot, and Danyor, but overcrowding, poor sanitation, and food shortages are becoming major issues.

According to the Pakistan Red Crescent, urgent needs include:

Clean drinking water
Medicine and first aid
Warm clothes and blankets
Rehabilitation funds for rebuilding homes

🛠️ Government Response So Far

The Government of Pakistan has declared a state of emergency in Gilgit-Baltistan. PM Shehbaz Sharif announced a PKR 3 billion emergency fund to support relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Key steps taken include:

Army and NDMA deployed for rescue operations
Helicopter evacuations in remote areas
Temporary bridges set up where roads collapsed
Food and ration distribution by international donors and UN bodies

However, locals complain that many areas are still cut off, and the response is slow due to difficult terrain.

🌍 Climate Change: The Root Cause?

Environmental scientists have long warned that Pakistan is among the top 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change. The 2022 floods that submerged one-third of the country were a similar warning. Yet, not enough has changed since then.

The GLOF-II project funded by UNDP and the Green Climate Fund was designed to strengthen early warning systems in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. Unfortunately, implementation has been slow.

“The GB floods are not a one-time event. This is the new normal unless serious climate resilience is built,” said Dr. Arif Mahmood, a climate expert at GCISC.

📸 Before and After – Devastation in Pictures

Satellite images from July 10, 2025, show vast swaths of land under floodwaters. Roads connecting Gilgit to Skardu are damaged in over 15 locations. The Indus River has breached embankments near Jaglot.

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🤝 Global Aid & NGO Efforts

Several international organizations have stepped in:

UNICEF – Providing clean water kits and child protection services
WFP – Air-dropping food in inaccessible areas
AKDN (Aga Khan Development Network) – Deploying volunteers and mobile health units

Countries like China, UAE, and Turkey have offered aid. The UN Secretary-General has urged for immediate international support, calling this a “climate-induced humanitarian crisis.”

📢 Voices from the Ground

"I lost everything—my home, my cattle, and my land. We barely escaped with our lives," said Nazir Khan, a resident of Ghizer.

"We had no warning. The water came at night. We climbed trees to survive," shared a teenage survivor in Skardu.

NGOs are demanding better early warning systems and investments in local infrastructure like embankments, drainage channels, and climate-resistant housing.

🔗 Internal Links – Related News

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What caused the Gilgit-Baltistan floods in 2025?

The floods were caused by glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) combined with record-breaking monsoon rains.

Q2: How many people have been affected?

Over 18,000 people have been displaced and more than 2,300 homes destroyed. Fatalities are still being confirmed.

Q3: What is being done for flood victims?

Emergency funds have been announced. Army and NGOs are involved in rescue, and relief camps have been set up across GB.

Q4: Can these floods happen again?

Yes. Due to climate change, such events are expected to increase in both frequency and intensity in the coming years.

⚠️ Climate Crisis in Pakistan – A Wake-Up Call

Gilgit-Baltistan is home to 5,000+ glaciers—more than anywhere outside the polar regions. But this natural beauty is now turning into a source of danger.

If climate resilience and adaptation are not prioritized, Pakistan may face even worse disasters in the near future.

✅ Conclusion

The Gilgit-Baltistan floods of 2025 are not just a natural disaster—they are a reflection of our unpreparedness in the face of a climate emergency. From glacial melt to poor infrastructure, from slow response to lack of awareness, every element of this tragedy was preventable.

Pakistan must now invest in climate adaptation, resilient infrastructure, and community-based early warning systems. Otherwise, what we call a “freak disaster” today may become a recurring headline tomorrow.

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