DISASTER struck again, this time in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Ghizer Valley. A glacial lake outburst flood devastated villages and farmland, destroying homes, schools and bridges. Over 300 households were affected, but thanks to the quick thinking of a shepherd, Wasiyat Khan, who raised the alarm in time, lives were saved. His heroic intervention, along with the efforts of local volunteers, ensured residents could evacuate before the waters came crashing down. This story also lays bare a sad truth: time and again, it is ordinary citizens — not the state — who shoulder the burden of rescue and survival. Earlier this month, residents........

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