Who is Wasiyat Khan? Heroic shepherd helps avert tragedy as deadly Glof hits Ghizer valley

A massive glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) struck the Ghizer Valley early Friday morning, destroying homes, roads, and farmland. But thanks to the quick actions of a local shepherd, Wasiyat Khan, hundreds of people escaped death.

The flood began around 3 am after a glacier burst near Tildas village in the Gupis Valley. Huge amounts of water and debris rushed downstream, blocking the Ghizer River for several hours. This created an artificial lake that submerged nearby homes, farmland, trees, and bridges.

The Heroic Shepherd’s Warning

When the glacier burst, Wasiyat Khan from Rawshan village was nearby. He saw the danger and immediately called local villagers using his mobile phone. His early warning gave families time to evacuate before the flood hit.

Local volunteers quickly moved people to safer areas. Thanks to Khan’s alert, no lives were lost.

Authorities later praised Khan, calling him a hero. The Gilgit-Baltistan police department awarded him a certificate of honor for saving lives.

The Scale of Destruction

Officials said about 80% of Tildas village was destroyed. At least 65 households lost their homes, land, and belongings. In total, 330 houses across six villages – Tildas, Rawshan, Hakis, Gawat, and Molaabad – were severely damaged.

Important public buildings, including a mosque, a school, a Jamat Khana, and a main RCC bridge on the Gilgit-Ghizer Road, were also washed away. The floodwaters blocked the Gilgit-Shandur Road, cutting off upper areas like Phander and Yasin.

More than 200 people were rescued and taken to temporary shelters in safer places. Rescue 1122 teams provided emergency medical care to families who fled with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.

Government Response

GB Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan visited the disaster-hit areas. He promised quick rehabilitation of damaged bridges, power supply lines, irrigation systems, and drinking water facilities.

He also directed the Disaster Management Authority to provide shelter, food, and medical aid to the affected families.

A Valley in Crisis

This year has been especially hard for Ghizer Valley. On August 14, earlier floods killed 13 people and left hundreds homeless in nearby towns. Local communities are demanding better early warning systems to prevent such disasters in the future.

For now, the people of Ghizer are safe – and they credit their survival to the bravery of shepherd Wasiyat Khan, whose quick action turned a disaster into a story of hope.