Pakistan is currently experiencing a severe heatwave, with temperatures surpassing 50 degrees Celsius in some regions. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a weather outlook for May 26-31, warning that rising temperatures, heatwave conditions, flash floods, and landslides could affect various parts of the country, particularly the northern and southern areas. The NDMA also highlighted the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) across Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
NDMA Advisory on GLOF Events
Earlier, the NDMA had issued an advisory cautioning about an increase in potential GLOF events from March to September 2026 due to anticipated temperature rises, changing weather patterns, and possible early heatwave conditions in northern Pakistan. This advisory underscores the growing threat posed by climate change to the region's glacial ecosystems.
Viral Avalanche Video Misleading
Since Tuesday, a video has been circulating on social media platform X, showing an avalanche blocking a road in Gilgit-Baltistan. In the footage, people can be heard screaming in panic, with some chanting 'Allahu Akbar'. Many social media users shared the video claiming it was recent, raising concerns about Pakistan's weakening glaciers. Some used the clip to warn tourists heading north for vacations. The video was also shared by local digital news outlets on YouTube and Instagram.
However, a fact-check conducted by iVerify Pakistan revealed that the video is not recent. A keyword search for recent avalanche reports in Gilgit-Baltistan yielded no results. A Google reverse image search traced the video to a Facebook post by state media outlet Pakistan TV, dated March 13, with the caption: 'An avalanche blocked a river in the mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan in northern Pakistan amid snowfall ahead of the spring season.' The post included hashtags #GilgitBaltistan, #AvalancheAlert, #NorthernPakistan, and #SnowfallImpact.
The same video was also shared by Bol Hunza, a regional media network, on Instagram on March 13, indicating the incident occurred in upper Hunza. Additionally, multiple users on X and Facebook had shared the video during April and May. Jamil Nagri, Dawn correspondent in Gilgit-Baltistan, confirmed to iVerify Pakistan that no such event had occurred recently and that the video dated back to March.
Understanding Avalanches in Pakistan
An avalanche involves the rapid descent of snow, rock, ice, soil, and other materials down a mountainside. According to a March report by the NDMA, avalanches in Pakistan are most frequent from February to April, following heavy snowfall events combined with temperature fluctuations, strong winds, and additional snow loading. The report also noted that expanding infrastructure, such as the Karakoram Highway, hydropower installations, and settlements in narrow valleys, increases exposure to avalanche hazards. Districts like Chitral, Upper Dir, Ghizer, Hunza, Skardu, Neelum, and Haveli remain particularly vulnerable.
Climate Change Impact
Research indicates that the frequency of avalanches in the Himalayan mountains has increased in recent years, an expected consequence of climate change. This trend highlights the need for enhanced monitoring and preparedness measures in vulnerable regions.
Conclusion: The claim that the viral video shows a recent snow avalanche in Gilgit-Baltistan is misleading. The video is from March 2026, and according to the NDMA, the highest incidence of avalanches in Pakistan occurs from February to April. This fact check was originally published by iVerify Pakistan, a project of CEJ-IBA and UNDP.
