Pakistani shepherds hailed as national heroes after saving hundreds of lives

Dubai: In the remote mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan, three humble shepherds are being celebrated as national heroes after their vigilance saved nearly 300 lives from a deadly flash flood.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited the men including Wasit Khan, Ansar, and Muhammad Khan to Islamabad, where they will be honoured at a special ceremony for their extraordinary bravery.

The men’s timely intervention came when a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) threatened Roshan village in Ghizer district in Gilgit. While tending to their livestock in the early hours, they noticed signs of an impending flood. One of them quickly used his mobile phone to raise the alarm, prompting villagers to flee just moments before torrents of water submerged the village.

Residents, who lost their homes and livestock, credit the shepherds for preventing a mass tragedy. “They are our saviour. We were all asleep and would have met a tragic fate had they not informed us,” said Shakir Hussain, a villager.

Despite the installation of costly Early Warning Devices across Gilgit-Baltistan, officials admitted the system failed to issue alerts during the recent disaster, which claimed at least 40 lives elsewhere in the region. The shepherds’ quick action has reignited debate about the reliability of indigenous knowledge in Pakistan’s rugged northern terrain, where communities often rely on traditional observation to survive nature’s fury.

Prime Minister Shehbaz praised the trio, declaring them “a remarkable example of duty and responsibility.” He added: “I, along with the entire nation, am proud of these heroes from Gilgit-Baltistan.”

The floods have left widespread devastation across the country. A recent report by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed 393 deaths in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone, including 40 children, while more than 1,600 homes have been destroyed. Nationwide, nearly 750 people have died since the monsoon season began, highlighting Pakistan’s growing vulnerability to climate change.