“How Flash Floods and GLOFs Are Destroying Agriculture and Homes in Gilgit-Baltistan Amid Climate Change”

Gilgit Baltistan’s Agriculture Under Climate Threat.

Rising temperatures, melting glaciers, and Shifting weather patterns are turning Gilgit Baltistan’s fertile valleys into climate risk zones, putting centuries-old farming traditions at high risk.

Gilgit Baltistan (GB) is at the frontline of a climate emergency due to the presence of the world’s largest mountain ranges and glaciers, including the Karakoram, Hindu Kush, and Himalayas. In recent years, rising temperatures, torrential monsoon rains, cloudbursts, and glacial instability have increased threats of natural disasters such as flash floods, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), mudflows, and landslides in the region.

In July 2025, GB recorded an unprecedented heatwave with temperatures soaring up to 48.5 °C Reported by Dawn, shattering previous records and accelerating glacial melt to dangerous levels. This rapid melting has destabilized glacial lakes, triggering glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and widespread flooding in downstream agricultural valleys.

2025 Cloudburst & Flood Impact in GB.

Between late June and mid-July 2025, flash floods and landslides triggered by monsoon rains, cloudbursts, and rising water levels devastated communities across Gilgit Baltistan.

In Ghizer and Gilgit districts, a cloudburst on July 13 damaged over 13 homes, washed away irrigation channels, blocked inter-district roads, killed over 30 livestock, and completely damaged farmlands and standing crops to read more visit Dawn.com. Massive glacial calving events from the Shishper Glacier caused severe floods along the Hassanabad Nallah, eroding hundreds of kanals of agricultural land, submerging standing crops, and damaging livestock holdings.

Furthermore, in Yarzirich village, located in the Chipurson Valley of Gojal, the flooding has destroyed both the drinking water and irrigation systems, cutting off vital water access for the local community. Meanwhile, in the Mantho Nala area of Kharmang, intense rainfall led to the complete destruction of a house. In another incident, the Luxus Hotel at Attabad Lake in Hunza was struck by flooding for the third time this summer. Despite repeated damage, the hotel has managed to resume operations after each event. These floods signify a climate-intensified pattern, with extreme heat, glacier surges, and faulty early warnings converging to unravel agricultural livelihoods. The current situation echoes the devastating 2022 floods, which killed nearly 1,700 people and displaced more than 30 million across the country. That disaster caused a combined economic impact of over $30 billion, severely damaging infrastructure, agriculture, and livelihoods .

Climate Disaster Threat Increases in GB.

Extreme Heat & Glacier Instability.

Heatwaves destabilize glaciers, increase calving events, and create transient glacial lakes. Blocks of ice entering narrow river channels cause sudden flooding when they collapse, sending surging water downstream. In recent years, this phenomenon has intensified across Gilgit-Baltistan, particularly in valleys near rapidly retreating glaciers like Shishper, Khurdopin, Badsawat, and Passu. The unstable buildup of meltwater behind ice dams increases the risk of sudden glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), often with little to no warning. These events not only wash away farmland and infrastructure but also threaten human lives in remote mountain communities. The accelerated pace of glacier melt has disrupted seasonal water availability, creating water surpluses in summer and severe shortages in spring and autumn.

Unpredicted Rainfall Patterns.

Erratic snowfall occurring in months like February, March, and May melts too quickly to build glaciers, weakening long-term water storage. Rainfall patterns are becoming irregular, increasing the chances of floods while extending drought spells. In Gilgit-Baltistan, this unpredictability has severely disrupted sowing and harvesting cycles, particularly for wheat, maize, and fruit crops. Sudden spring rains often damage blossoms on fruit trees such as apricot and apple, reducing yields drastically. Meanwhile, prolonged dry periods in traditionally wet months delay planting and stress irrigated crops. The unpredictability also hampers the planning of irrigation, increasing dependence on glacial melt and artificial water sources.

Fragile Early Warning Systems.

Despite investments under the GLOF-II project for early warning systems, many installations are now non-functional, stolen, or poorly maintained. This has reduced the lead time for evacuations and preparedness. In several vulnerable valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan, communities report that sirens, sensors, and communication tools meant to alert them of impending glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) either failed to operate or were entirely absent during recent emergencies. The lack of routine maintenance, technical staff, and local training has further weakened the system’s effectiveness. In some cases, equipment was installed without proper integration into community disaster response plans, rendering them symbolic rather than functional.

Agricultural Vulnerability & Soil Degradation.

Repeated flooding and erosion have stripped arable land. Farmers, especially women who traditionally cultivate vegetables and fruits, face shrinking growing seasons and fewer harvest cycles. Continuous waterlogging in some areas and drought in others have degraded soil fertility, making it harder to sustain productivity year after year. In districts like Shigar and Ghizer, nutrient-rich topsoil has been washed away, leaving behind rocky, barren patches unsuitable for cultivation. Landslides triggered by heavy rains have also buried fields under debris, turning once-productive land into unusable terrain. With limited access to fertilizers, technology, and climate-resilient seeds, small-scale farmers are unable to recover quickly. As the soil loses its capacity to retain moisture and nutrients, crop yields drop, threatening food security.

Human & Economic Losses.

Agriculture supports over half the population of Gilgit Baltistan. In 2022, approximately 8,543 kanals of land were flooded, 32 powerhouses damaged, 22 lives lost, and 1,211 houses destroyed, per UNDP assessments. Ghizer district saw over 20 casualties and 200+ houses damaged, with losses estimated at Rs 10 billion and 50,000 people displaced.

Responses & Adaptation.

Community-Led Innovation.

Artificial glacier towers (Ice Stupas), built in winter, store meltwater and release it in spring, enabling early irrigation (as early as March rather than June). Over 16,000 beneficiaries in GB now cultivate multiple crops thanks to this innovation. Furthermore, the traditional practice of glacier grafting—seeding rocks, ice, and organic material to preserve or prolong glacier ice at high altitudes—increases local water availability by up to 50%.

Early Warning & Disaster Finance.

The UNDP-backed GLOF-II initiative has deployed warning systems in several valleys, though reliability issues remain. Experts urge the adoption of community-based flood insurance schemes and micro-insurance to cushion farming families financially, as currently less than 25% receive government compensation.

Policy & Infrastructure Investing.

Researchers and environmental authorities call for a tailored GB climate adaptation policy, with investments in resilient infrastructure such as reinforced roads, irrigation channels, capacity building, community relocation, and slope stabilization. So far, GB institutions lack sufficient budget, climate data, localized planning, and enforcement to scale adaptation effectively.

Conclusion & Way Forward.

Gilgit Baltistan’s agricultural sector is grounded in the timeless rhythms of snowmelt and monsoon-driven water. However, in 2025, climate change disrupted these patterns by bringing unprecedented heat, floods, and glacier collapse, which destroyed standing crops, orchards, livestock, and eroded land, livelihoods, and infrastructure. From the July 2025 cloudburst to ongoing glacier destabilization, agriculture remains highly vulnerable. Therefore, without accelerated adaptation such as early warning systems, insurance safety nets, community relocation, organized rescue services, capacity building, and resilient infrastructure, future seasons may bring even deeper destruction.