ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s meteorological authority on Saturday issued a warning of imminent Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in the high mountains of the north, even as monsoon-driven floods ravage Punjab, displacing hundreds of thousands and inundating towns, roads and farmlands.

GLOF, sudden surges of water released when glacial lake barriers collapse, can unleash torrents through downstream valleys. This monsoon, GLOFs have already destroyed infrastructure and stranded tourists across Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa amid relentless rains and flash flooding.

“The hydro-meteorological data from the stations installed at Arkari, Badswat, Darkut, Hisper Hoper, Ghundus and Gulkin under GLOF-II Project indicates a significant rise in temperature values, much higher than normal, which may accelerate glacier melt,” the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said. “There is an increased probability of GLOF and flash floods in the aforementioned locations in particular, and in other areas generally.”

The GLOF-II Project monitors glacier-fed basins in northern Pakistan, including Arkari in Chitral, Badswat and Darkut in Ghizer, Hisper Hoper in Nagar, Ghundus in Shigar and Gulkhin in Hunza, aiming to detect early warnings of glacial melt–induced flooding.

The PMD warning comes at a time when the country is witnessing a fresh monsoon spell which led to urban flooding in places like Peshawar in KP and Lahore in Punjab.

With tens of thousands of farming families uprooted in various districts of Punjab, living in tent cities after losing their standing crops and animals, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced it would offer free voice calls to users in flood-hit areas.

“This facility will enable even those customers with zero balance to remain connected with their families and access emergency services during this challenging time,” the PTA said.

Monsoon floods have claimed more than 830 lives nationwide since the beginning of the season in late June.

Authorities warn of a potential repeat of the catastrophic 2022 monsoon season, when over 1,700 people died and the country suffered more than $30 billion in damage.