Islamabad, May 11: A key bridge in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region was swept away by waters from a glacial lake. The Hassanabad bridge on the Karakoram Highway was destroyed on Saturday. By gushing floodwaters, stranding thousands of locals and tourists, a media report said. The Shishper glacier near Mount Shishpar reportedly started melting due to the heat that led to the floods. The flood also swept away two hydro power projects. And submerged houses, farm land and water supply channels. The report said. Sherry Rehman, Pakistan’s new Climate Change Minister, warned that several areas were vulnerable to the rising heat. “Pakistan has the highest number of glaciers outside the polar region and many are losing mass due to high global temperatures,” she said.
