Theft and Vandalism Disrupt Flood Early Warning Systems in Kumrat and Mankial Valleys
Peshawar: Early flood warning systems installed in the glaciated valleys of Kumrat in Upper Dir and Mankial in Upper Swat have been damaged and looted by unidentified individuals, disrupting critical flood and Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) monitoring infrastructure.
According to official sources, around 14 Early Warning System (EWS) stations have stopped transmitting data to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) after essential equipment was stolen or vandalised. The damaged infrastructure includes solar panels, batteries, snow, wind and water sensors, solar wiring, logger boxes, and satellite communication components.
A PMD official said that most of the vandalism occurred in Kumrat Valley, while several installations in Mankial were also affected. He noted that many of the damaged systems had recently been repaired or replaced, but repeated incidents continue to undermine the monitoring network.
A total of 85 Early Warning Systems have been installed across glaciated regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Chitral, Upper Dir, Swat, and Kohistan, under the UNDP GLOF-II Project in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change and the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
The Ministry of Defence has expressed concern over repeated vandalism and requested the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to strengthen protection of the installations. During recent inspections, officials found extensive theft of batteries, solar panels, communication equipment, and support structures, while one water level gauge station was declared beyond repair.
Authorities said that although several stations have been restored, repeated acts of theft continue to threaten the sustainability of the system and compromise timely flood warnings for vulnerable communities.
Officials stressed that stronger coordination between district administrations, law enforcement agencies, the PMD, and local communities is essential to safeguard the infrastructure. They also emphasised that greater community awareness and local ownership are critical for protecting these disaster risk reduction systems and ensuring effective early warning services.
