ISLAMABAD: A glacier burst in the tourist destination of Kalam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has left one person missing and six others injured, according to rescue officials.
Rescue authorities said the incident occurred a few days ago in the Matiltan area of Kalam Valley. However, information about the incident only reached the authorities after the affected individuals returned to the main market.
The missing person has been identified as Syed Ali Shah, a resident of Khwazakhela. According to his companions, there are fears that he may have died in the incident, but his body has not yet been recovered.
Rescue 1122 said that three of the injured individuals were provided first aid before being shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Kalam. They were later referred to the Central Hospital in Saidu Sharif for further medical treatment. The remaining three individuals sustained minor injuries and are reported to be safe.
سوات کالام کے علاقے مٹلتان میں گلیشیئر پھٹنے سے کوہ پیمائوں کا گروپ زد میں آگیا
3 افراد زخمی جبکہ ایک تاحال لاپتا
سوات کے علاقے کالام کی وادی مٹلتان میں گلیشیئر پھٹنے کے باعث 7 افراد متاثر ہوئے۔
ریسکیو 1122 کے مطابق 3 زخمیوں کو ابتدائی طبی امداد کے بعد تحصیل ہیڈکوارٹر ہسپتال… pic.twitter.com/xTBvCF2s2v
— Muhammad Faheem (@MeFaheem) July 18, 2026
Rescue officials said the search operation for the missing person is ongoing. They added that the public will be informed as more verified information becomes available.
According to available statistics, Pakistan is home to more than 13,000 glaciers. However, experts say that a significant number of these glaciers are rapidly shrinking due to climate change, increasing the likelihood of glacier burst incidents in the future.
Experts further noted that the northern regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan are particularly vulnerable to glacier bursts and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), with climate change playing a major role in the growing risk of such events.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned that higher-than-normal temperatures during the current monsoon season could accelerate the melting of snow and glaciers, leading to an increased risk of flooding.
