Global warming is a real discomforting phenomenon with measurable negative impacts for the less developed and remote regions of the world like Chitral, northern Pakistan. Climatic changes experienced by Chitrali locals in recent years have affected villages and brought about ˜alluvial fans [fan-shaped deposits of water-transported material]. Recently, the village of Sonoghor was engulfed by an enormous mud slide caused by a glacier breaking up and wiping out 100 households. Most believe the catastrophe to be linked to the effects of global warming which has extended its tentacles to remote and unspoiled regions like Chitral. The glacier melted and thinned the walls around the many water reservoirs on the glacier which, in turn, melted given the increase in temperatures.
Another incident occurred following an unexpected avalanche at Washeej village in the Torkhow valley, destroying many households and killing 50 people. The incident is also linked to global warming.
To counter natural calamities like these, an awareness campaign needs to be mounted among Chitrali locals, disseminated by environmental, ecological education and research. There is a saying in Khowar language ‘nadanioche kani baraba’, [ignorance and blindness are the same]. We can cure our social blindness and raise awareness for the protection of our environment only through a system introduced at school level apart from undertaking hectic efforts to save the quick melting glaciers in the Hindu Kush Mountains, Chitral, Northern Pakistan.