GILGIT/MUZAFFARABAD: What began as a day of national pride in Gilgit-Baltistan quickly turned into a nightmare as torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides across the region on Thursday, leaving at least ten people dead and four others missing.
Earlier in the day, the valleys of Gilgit, Skardu, Ghizer, Astore and Diamer echoed with patriotic songs and flag-hoisting ceremonies to mark Pakistan’s 78th Independence Day. By afternoon, however, celebrations gave way to chaos as floodwaters swept away homes, farmland and vital infrastructure.
According to provincial government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq, three people, including a woman, were killed in Khalthi valley of district Ghizer, where more than half a dozen houses were buried under debris. Three others remain missing, with rescue teams conducting search operations.
In Diamer’s Bonar area, a brother and sister were swept away by raging floodwaters, while a child was injured in a landslide on the Babusar road.
Flash floods also ravaged Ghizer’s Yasin Thoi, damaging houses, schools, water tanks and agricultural land. Landslides disrupted travel on the Baltistan and Sadpara roads, while Thor in Diamer reported severe destruction. The Astore valley wasn’t spared either. Floods also damaged agriculture land and roads in the area.
Meanwhile in Kohistan area, floods damaged a bridge on Karakoram Highway, disrupting traffic between GB and rest of the country.
The GB government has imposed emergency measures in several areas, directing the GB Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) and Rescue 1122 to remain on high alert. Relief and search operations are under way despite challenging weather conditions. “This is a testing time for Gilgit-Baltistan,” said Faraq. “The government is mobilising all available resources to assist the affected communities.”
Meanwhile, six members of the same family were killed in a cloudburst in Naseerabad Tehsil of Muzaffarabad. Torrential rains and flash flooding in various areas of Azad Kashmir caused rivers to overflow.
Heavy rains in Bagh district caused rivers to overflow, and high levels of flooding occurred in the Bhimbar drain in Samahni, which swept away a tourist vehicle. However, all the people were rescued. There was also an extraordinary increase in water flow in Jhelum Valley, Samahni, Hattian Bala and Neelum Valley.
