Deadly Climate Change in Pakistan: 7 Shocking Ways Summer Oases Turned into Flood Zones

Climate change in Pakistan has reached a terrifying new reality. The northern mountain retreats — once considered safe havens from scorching heat — have been transformed into deadly flood zones. Families, tourists, and entire villages are being swept away by floods fueled by rising temperatures, accelerated glacier melt, and unprecedented monsoon rains.

In 2025 alone, more than 800 people have died in climate-related floods, the highest toll since the devastating 2022 floods that submerged one-third of the country.

Flash Floods in Tourist Hotspots

Naran and the Babusar Pass, long celebrated for their alpine beauty, became sites of disaster this July. Tour guide Fasih Qazi, leading a group of Karachi tourists, described the horror as a sudden cloudburst turned a stream into a raging torrent.

Within minutes, boulders the size of cars were crashing downhill, crushing vehicles and sweeping away families. At least 13 lives were lost that day. Qazi admitted:

“I’ve never seen anything like it. We thought we were going to die.”

This tragedy reflects a larger crisis: Pakistan’s climate change hotspots are now its tourist zones, where people seeking relief from heatwaves instead face life-threatening floods.

Before the Floods: A Changing Landscape

Just a decade ago, summers in Babusar and Naran meant snow-covered peaks and cold winds. Tourists needed coats even in July. Today, shops sell T-shirts, portable coolers, and glacier ice for chilled drinks.

This visible shift is a result of global warming, where rising atmospheric moisture fuels 15% more intense rainfall events, according to World Weather Attribution.

Locals, once confident that their mountain towns would thrive as climate refuges, are now facing collapsed bridges, wrecked schools, and crushed cars — grim reminders that nature’s fury spares no one.

Glacier Melt and Hidden Dangers

While monsoon rains are somewhat predictable, glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are silent killers. Pakistan has over 13,000 glaciers, and many are rapidly melting, forming unstable lakes that can burst without warning.

In Hunza Valley, night watchman Sher Alam mistook a flood tremor for an earthquake — until his flashlight revealed a wall of water roaring through the valley.

Such floods routinely wash away roads, including stretches of the Karakoram Highway, Pakistan’s trade artery with China. According to UNDP Pakistan, dozens of villages in Gilgit-Baltistan face imminent threats from glacier lake collapses.

Impact on Local Communities

The human cost of climate change in Pakistan is staggering. Families like that of Muhammad Idrees in Gadezai lost parents, siblings, and grandparents in a single flood. Survivors live in tents, grieving their loved ones and uncertain about rebuilding.

In Sherabad, Zahid Mehmood watched his childhood home collapse into floodwaters. Now, his family of 13 lives under canvas shelters, dependent on aid. Businesses, from dry-cleaners to souvenir shops, are shuttered.

Tourism Collapse and Economic Loss

Tourism — once a beacon of hope for Gilgit-Baltistan — is collapsing. Hotels that once welcomed thousands now stand empty. Souvenir sellers, hoteliers, and tour operators have lost their livelihoods.

Hotel manager Akbar Ali from Attabad shared:

“A hike that used to take four to five hours now takes the whole day. Stones keep falling. Guests are too afraid to come.”

When viral videos of apocalyptic floods hit social media, mass cancellations followed. For locals, this is more than lost business — it’s a lost future.

Government Response and Future Risks

Pakistan’s government has taken some measures:

• Building spillways and dams near dangerous glacier lakes.
• Installing early warning systems in flood-prone valleys.
• Offering cash rewards to locals who report imminent floods.

However, critics argue these steps are insufficient compared to the scale of the crisis. Climate experts warn that without international climate finance, Pakistan cannot cope with the escalating disasters linked to global warming.

For more on adaptation strategies, see UN Climate Change on Pakistan.

Conclusion: A Shattered Refuge

What was once an idyllic escape from Pakistan’s unbearable summers is now a zone of fear. Naran, Hunza, Babusar, and Gilgit-Baltistan — all symbols of Pakistan’s natural beauty — are being reshaped into landscapes of tragedy by climate change.

For survivors like Fasih Qazi, every summer now carries dread:

“We came here for life. But climate change has brought death to the mountains.”

The future of northern Pakistan’s tourism, economy, and communities now hinges on whether urgent climate action — both local and global — can slow this destruction. Without it, Pakistan’s summer oases may vanish entirely.

Internal Links Suggestions:

• Pakistan’s Water Crisis Explained
• How Heatwaves Are Changing Karachi’s Future

External Links Suggestions:

• World Weather Attribution – Pakistan Floods
• UNDP Pakistan – Glacier Risks
• UN Climate Change on Pakistan