MANSEHRA: The Upper Kohistan district administration on Sunday warned families living along rivers and streams to relocate to safer places as water levels rose sharply amid the risk of glacial lake outburst floods in the Kandia Valley and other high-altitude areas.
“We have advised families settled along rivers and streams to move to safer locations as the risk of glacial lake outburst floods has increased due to the prevailing heatwave in the district and other parts of the country,” deputy commissioner Upper Kohistan Azizullah Jan told reporters.
He said the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), in its latest Glof alert, has warned that water levels in rivers and streams across the district were likely to remain high, while existing glacial lakes could burst, posing a serious threat to nearby settlements.
“We are anticipating flash floods in rivers and streams across the mountainous regions of the district,” Mr Jan said.
He said early warning systems installed in the high-altitude areas of Kandia Valley were being continuously monitored to ensure the timely evacuation and safety of families living along the Kandia River, which has caused widespread destruction duringfloodsin the past.
“We have also advised locals and visitors to avoid travelling to remote mountainous areas, particularly narrow valleys and stream crossings, as monsoon rains could trigger flash floods at any time,” he said.
“We have enforced Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code banning swimming and other recreational activities in rivers and streams across the district,” Mr Jan said.
Meanwhile,Torghar’s first-ever government degree college for boys will soon begin its first academic session as finishing work on the newly completed building has entered its final stage.
“We are planning to launch the first academic session soon. The process of recruiting teaching and administrative staff has already begun and the remaining finishing work on the building is expected to be completed shortly,” deputy commissioner Dr Yasir Imran told reporters in Judbah, the district headquarters, on Saturday.
Accompanied by officials of the district administration, the deputy commissioner inspected various sections of the college building and directed the contractors to expedite the completion of the remaining work.
“This state-of-the-art institution will provide higher education opportunities to students from Torghar, who currently have to travel to other districts of Hazara and elsewhere in the province after completing their matriculation,” he said.
Meanwhile, residents of Karori and adjoining areas staged a protest in Oghi against the mining of granite and other minerals, alleging that illegal mining activities had damaged forests, roads and local water resources.
“We demand that the government take notice of the environmental pollution, depletion of groundwater and destruction of forests caused by large-scale mining in Karori and its adjoining villages,” a protester said.
Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2026
