BRIEF OF DISASTER IN DISTRICT CHITRAL
On the night falling between 15th and 16th July, and again on 19th , 24th and 28thJuly 2015, different parts of District Chitral were hit by Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) which carried massive torrents and flash floods washing away villages, access roads, bridges, drinking water supply systems, micro hydel power channels, public/private property and agricultural crops. This phenomenon is unusual; however, due to climate changes (heat index have crossed all times previous records, as highest recorded temperature in the district reached to 43°C, averaging 35°C during days times in July, 2015. Districts in the north of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa i.e. Mansehra,
Chitral, Battagram, Kohistan (U/L), Torghar and Shangla are prone to such incidents of GLOF and these districts have already been sensitized by NDMA & PDMA during various phases of monsoon contingency planning. In Chitral, 32 people have so far been reported as dead in various incidents.
The exact number of injuries cannot be ascertained due to inaccessibility to different affected areas.
The rain spell is on and the district is expected to receive more rains and more events of GLOF in the days to come.