A race against time
How a shepherd’s quick thinking saved a village in Pakistan from a sudden, devastating flood.
Disaster averted
When torrential rains unleashed devastating floods across Pakistan in mid-August, entire communities were swept into chaos.
Nearly 230,000 homes were damaged, 790 bridges collapsed, and more than 2,800 kilometers of roads were torn apart.
Livelihoods vanished overnight as fields and livestock were lost to the raging waters.
But in Hurchus — a small and remote village tucked deep in the Shigar Valley, northern Pakistan — disaster was held at bay thanks to one man’s courage and quick thinking.
'How can I protect my family and the other villagers?'
Abuzar Hussain, now in his mid-30s, has spent his life tending sheep and goats in the mountains of Shigar. His family relies on incomes from their agricultural land, apricot orchards and livestock.
Around noon that day, Abuzar stood on the upper slopes of the village with his sheep and goats, surrounded by the stillness of the mountains.
Four times he saw small streams of water trickling down — nothing unusual, nothing to worry about. But at six o’clock in the evening, the calm shattered. A deep, thunderous roar echoed through the valley.
“I climbed a hill and saw a massive, destructive flood surging toward the village across the canal,” he recalls. “I asked myself: ‘How can I protect my family and the other villagers?’”
Abuzar’s own home stood in the flood’s path, and his family of ten had only minutes to escape, along with the other 1,000 villagers.
He had a cell phone with him, but there was no signal. Abuzar quickly climbed higher up the mountain, desperately searching for a connection.
The valley was silent except for the roar of water. It was evening and most villagers are at home. No one could be seen in the quiet streets. Clutching his phone, Abuzar kept trying, and praying, for a signal.
Finally, his call went through. Within minutes, the mosque loudspeaker blared a warning across the village: “Floodwaters are coming — move to higher ground!”
Families scrambled to safety. A few homes were destroyed, apricot orchards washed away, and farmland buried under rocks and mud. But no lives were lost that day in Hurchus.
Not this time.
Abuzar Hussain sits on a field of boulders washed down by the floods near his home.
Abuzar Hussain sits on a field of boulders washed down by the floods near his home.
The tiny mosque in Hurchus with the loudspeakers that alerted the community.
The tiny mosque in Hurchus with the loudspeakers that alerted the community.
The house made of stones where Abuzar Hussain lives.
The house made of stones where Abuzar Hussain lives.
Living under threat
For villagers, floods are no stranger. They suffered the impacts of flooding in 2020, 2024 and 2025. Some villagers are afraid that "if another flood hits in 2026, every house could be destroyed".
Before the flood, a spring of fresh water flowed through a canal near the mountain above the village.
"The water from the spring used to be brought to the village through a pipe," says Mehdi Hassan, the community leader.
“This year, the flood washed away the entire pipe along with the tank."
Now, the stream is choked with mud and stones.
If the pipe and tank are repaired, clean water will be available again.
But winter is approaching, and the dropping temperatures make repairs harder. “Children already have many complaints of fever,” Mehdi adds, his voice heavy with concern.
Fear looms large. Agriculture — the lifeline of Hurchus — is under constant threat. Now, villagers hope for help from humanitarian organizations.
The wider response
Across Pakistan, early warnings and swift action saved thousands of lives. Over 85,000 people received early warning messages, and 26,000 were safely evacuated from high-risk areas thanks to Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) volunteers and local authorities.
First on the scene
“When the floods hit, PRCS volunteers were among the first on the ground,” says Manzoor Ali, IFRC Programme Manager in Islamabad.
With IFRC support, PRCS mobilized resources fast, treating 12,800 patients, reaching 36,000 with Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services, and feeding nearly 200,000 people.
As winter approaches, efforts shift to recovery: health, WASH, cash assistance, and livelihoods.
How courage and community turned the tide
Individual actions from people like Abuzar are also critical in emergencies. Abuzar acted not just to save his own family, but because he felt a deep responsibility for his community.
“If I didn’t warn them, many lives could have been lost,” he said quietly, his hands resting calmly on his knees as he narrated his experience through an interpreter.
Abuzar Hussain’s quick thinking turned fear into action, warning families just in time. Though some livestock and many orchards were lost, his family, and the entire village, survived.
The fight isn’t over, however. Abuzar still fears the next flood, but his story proves that when disaster strikes, courage and community can mean the difference between survival and loss.
Photos, texts and video by:
Stephane Corbeil
IFRC Surge Communications Officer
Pakistan Monsoon Floods 2025
Learn more about recent floods in Pakistan
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