A local shepherd in the Gilgit Baltistan (GB) Ghizer district has been honored for saving hundreds of lives after the alarm gave when a flood of the glacial lake (Glof) threatened to devastate his village.
The natural phenomenon caused great flood and generalized destruction, creating an artificial lake, authorities said on Friday.
GB government spokesman Faizullah Firaq confirmed that the glacier exploded in Tali Das in the Ghizer Gupis area caused floods and destruction.
Pastor Wasat Khan was in the mountains when he noticed that something was wrong. From where he was standing, he could see a glacier break and knew that the people below was in serious danger.
What he did next saved hundreds of lives.
He took his phone and began calling his people in Tali Das, warning them to leave their homes before it was too late.
Responding to the alert that saves lives, men, women, elders and children in the dark, carrying everything they could, since they reached a higher land.
At the end of the night, almost 100 houses were deserted, and around 200 lives were healthy and solid.
When mass flood finally fell, the houses were damaged, many beyond repair.
Recognizing their fast thinking, the GB police later announced a reward of RS10,000 for Khan. He was also given a certificate of thanks for his mental presence and courage.
The spokesman Firaq later confirmed that several villages were flooded by the flood, which led to strong financial losses and added that lives were not lost, but warned that the blocked river raised greater risks of damage.
For the people of Tali Das, the night could have ended in the tragedy. On the other hand, due to the surveillance of a man, a whole community was saved.
The authorities said that due to Glof, multiple peoples were submerged, causing huge structural and material losses. However, it has not yet been informed of loss of human life.
According to district administration, land landslides have completely blocked the Gilgit -Shandur road. Earth landslides occurred from two directions in the Tali Das current, cutting Roushan’s village.
Ghizer’s additional attached commissioner reported that a landslide in Roushan, Tali Das, had completely blocked the flow of the Ghizer River from 3 am, with more communities affected by the water of the flood.
However, the appropriate warnings for residents assured that lives were not lost.
In a statement, ajmal rescue slit in charge said that up to 200 affected people had been transferred to Sumal and Yangal areas.
He said the rescue operation was underway to get six people from Rawshan drainage.
The rescue official said that the water began to flow after six six -hour blockages of the Ghizer River, reducing the risk of flooding of low areas.
GB Interior Minister Shams Lone said that although the flood had caused a devastation in Ghizer once again, until now he had not been informed of loss of lives. He added that reports had emerged that some people were stranded, for which helicopters had been requested.
A commander of the northern areas of the force command has already sent a helicopter emerging for rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, the government spokesman said that until now more than 50 people have been rescued. He said that the burst of the glacier has blocked the flow of the river in the region, causing the water to go back and form a large lake, putting close settlements at risk of immersion.
