A shepherd’s timely warning saved Roshan village in Ghizer from a deadly flash flood, exposing failures in Pakistan’s official early warning system.
A local shepherd’s quick thinking averted tragedy in Roshan village of Ghizer district on Friday, as he raised the alarm just moments before a devastating flash flood struck. Residents credited Wasiyat Khan, who spotted the surge while tending livestock near a glacier, for alerting the community through mobile phone calls and word of mouth. His swift action allowed the entire population to evacuate in time, saving countless lives.
While human loss was avoided, the destruction was severe. According to initial reports, at least 30 houses were destroyed, while shops, farmland and infrastructure were buried under debris and floodwater. Villagers now face the daunting challenge of displacement, with many families sheltering in makeshift camps after losing their homes and belongings.
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The incident has once again exposed glaring weaknesses in the state’s early warning mechanisms. Despite years of investment in flood-alert systems, it was the vigilance of a shepherd and the reliance on local communication networks that proved decisive in averting disaster. Residents voiced frustration that official alerts failed to reach them in time, calling for urgent reforms in disaster preparedness.
As climate change accelerates glacial melting and increases the frequency of such events in Gilgit Baltistan, experts stress the need for stronger community-based early warning systems. For Roshan’s villagers, however, the lesson is already clear: their survival rested not on state infrastructure but on the presence of mind of one man who chose to act.
