SWAT: Rescue 1122 reported on Saturday that search operations are ongoing to locate an individual who disappeared following a glacier burst in the Kalam Valley of Upper Swat.
The incident occurred a few days ago in the Matiltan area of Kalam and left six others injured. The glacial breach was confirmed after survivors made their way back to the main Kalam bazaar.
A man identified as Syed Ali Shah, a resident of Khwazakhela, remains unaccounted for. His companions believe he has died, but his body has not yet been recovered.
According to initial reports, three of the injured received first aid from Rescue 1122 medical personnel and were later moved from the Kalam Tehsil Headquarters Hospital to Central Hospital in Saidu Sharif for continued treatment.
The remaining three sustained minor injuries and are reported to be in stable condition.
Rescue officials stated that additional confirmed details will be provided to the media and public as they emerge.
The northern regions of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are highly susceptible to glacier detachments and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), events increasingly driven by climate change.
In its 2026 monsoon outlook, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned that above-normal temperatures could accelerate snow and glacier melt, raising runoff volumes and increasing the likelihood of localized glacier-related hazards.
The PMD further noted that warming trends may elevate GLOF risks, where sudden glacial lake discharges can trigger severe downstream flooding.
Pakistan contains more than 13,032 glaciers—the largest glacial reserve outside the polar regions—but experts caution that roughly 10,000 glaciers in Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan are retreating due to climate-induced warming.
Last month, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) flagged 130 potentially dangerous glacial lakes (PDGLs) that pose risks to downstream communities via GLOFs.
Among these 130 hazardous lakes, only 24 are currently ice-free and clearly visible.
In August 2025, at least 200 people were rescued after a glacier burst in Gilgit-Baltistan blocked the Ghizer River and formed two lakes.
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