Climate Erosion cuts Karakoram Highway in Upper Hunza

A significant stretch of Karakoram Highway (KKH) in Upper Hunza’s Morkhun area was destroyed by the river Erosion on Friday, the government said across the upper part of Pakistan and China, said government Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

“River erosion is still an important contributor to highway blocks in the region,” a cryosphere expert told Express Pakinomist. “Although disturbances at KKH are not unusual, the current intensity of river swelling and the scale of damage is significantly higher.”

GB government spokesman Faizullah Faraq confirmed that the increased river flow led to the erosion of a section of KKH, making it unacceptable. Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan has corrected immediate restoration of the highway.

Since June, Pakistan has been facing severe flash river driven by Cloudbursts, Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFS) and heavy monsoon rain. GB remains among the worst affected areas due to its mountainous terrain and exposure to glown melting.

This event also reflects a shift in snow cover dynamics across elevation zones in GB. Snow Cover Area (SCA) has fallen to lower heights where key infrastructure, including highways, is often located, according to Winter Report 2024-2025 by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The loss of seasonal snow at these heights results in earlier and faster melting, causing rivers to fade faster than before.

At the same time, permanent snow cover continues at higher heights (over 5000 masl), where glacier zones vary in size seasonally, but show long -term shrinking trends. In the summer, the contraction of snowpack coincides with rainfall and glofs, which multiplies hydrological stress on already fragile slopes and valleys.

As the Monsun season continuously and temperatures continue to rise, officials have warned of more climate-related disruptions, calling on residents and tourists to show caution and follow official advisers.

Data registered between 2001 and 2020 shows that surface temperatures (LST) have risen steadily year by year, with sharp seasonal spikes in June, August and September – precisely the months when monsoon and glacier runoff top. These heating trends have led to the withdrawal of glaciers at lower heights, adding the volume of melt water that feeds into the region’s rivers. The increased runoff from snow and glacier melts during the summer months exerts a huge pressure on riverbanks, increasing the risk of flash floods and erosion events, such as the one that separated KKH.

Source: Winter Report 2024-2025 by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

Such hydrological changes result in severe erosion along riverbanks, compromise infrastructure and trigger landslides or leaching that hinder important transport routes such as KKH.

The increasing frequency and severity of such events point to the rising vulnerability of regional road networks to climate -induced hydrological shifts.

This requires a combination of structural interventions and informed political measures.

While snow covering shows a declining trend in spring and summer, it is temporarily increased in winter to higher heights. These contradictory trends at similar heights increase the unpredictability of runoff patterns, making it more difficult to anticipate river behavior. Combined with rising LST, these changes are likely to aggravate the frequency of floods, landslides and slope errors – threatening essential infrastructure such as KKH. Glacial retreat, especially in middle-class heights of 3000-4000 Masl, is expected to continue unless warming trends reverse, which puts together the vulnerabilities for both natural and built environments.

“An important strategy is to conduct detailed studies of river dynamics – including sediment transport, seasonal streams and potential course changes – and performing risk assessments before road construction,” the cryosphere’s expert said.

“Incorporation of hydrological and geomorphological evaluations in the planning phase can reduce exposure to such risks.”

“In winter, when river discharge is low, strategically redirects the river flow towards less populated, robust areas can help reshape canals and reduce the pressure on fragile banks. Gabion walls provide any defense against erosion, although their efficiency falls under the water flow with high intensity.”

However, such interventions should be carefully designed to avoid organic or geomorphological damage.