GILGIT: A centuries-old traditional firing system in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamer district helped villagers escape moments before a massive flash flood tore through Darel Valley on Thursday, destroying homes, livestock, and crops.
Villagers said bursts of aerial firing — a practice deeply rooted in Diamer’s culture — served as the first warning, giving people precious minutes to flee. “Had we not received a warning five minutes earlier, we would have been washed away too,” said Altaf, whose house and cattle were swept away. “My house instantly turned into a pile of mud, but thankfully, we all survived.”
The worst destruction occurred in Mujini Mohalla Gamari, where nearly 15 houses of a single family were completely washed away. Fruit orchards, standing crops, and agricultural land were destroyed, and the area’s main road was cut off. Restoration work has already begun. Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq said the flood demolished dozens of houses across the valley and inflicted severe damage to livelihoods. He added that the traditional alarm system prevented what could have been a major human tragedy.
Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan directed the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) and Diamer divisional administration to start immediate relief operations, including the provision of tents, emergency supplies, and rehabilitation support.
Rescue teams have been dispatched, and road restoration work is underway. Officials also noted that flash floods have affected several areas in Diamer and neighbouring Ghizer district this summer, stressing the growing vulnerability of mountain communities to extreme weather. Earlier, a shepherd in Ghizer valley similarly saved several lives by alerting villagers to an approaching flash flood, highlighting the life-saving role of traditional warning systems in remote mountain regions.
