• Suparco says obstructed floodplain could trigger overbank flooding, debris flows• Satellite imagery shows number of ‘unfrozen lakes’ increased from 24 to 40 in just two weeks
ISLAMABAD: With the monsoon season now under way, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) has raised concern over the uncontrolled spread of settlements along a natural glacial lake-fed stream near Gilgit city, warning that lives, property and livestock could be at risk.
A comparison of satellite images from 2013 and 2023 clearly reveals the rapid and largely uncontrolled expansion of settlements along the natural stream near Gilgit city. The stream is fed by upstream glacial lakes within the catchment, making it highly sensitive to climate-induced hazards such as glacial lake outburst floods (Glofs).
Over the past decade, urban growth has progressively encroached into the natural flood conveyance zone and alluvial fan of the stream, significantly reducing its capacity to safely accommodate high-magnitude flows, Suparco said.
Such land-use changes have altered natural drainage patterns and increased the exposure of residential and commercial infrastructure to flood hazards.
