Gilgit-Baltistan faced a devastating natural disaster on Monday as flash floods in Babusar swept away tourist vehicles, tragically killing three people and leaving at least 15 missing. Triggered by intense monsoon rains, the floods also injured four individuals and disrupted infrastructure across the Diamer district.
According to Faizullah Firaq, the spokesperson for the GB government, three bodies were recovered from debris in the affected region, while the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital in Chilas. He noted that one of the injured remains in critical condition.
“Fifteen tourists are still unaccounted for after eight vehicles were washed away by raging floodwaters,” Firaq stated. Emergency medical teams are actively engaged in providing treatment and searching for those missing.
The flash floods in Gilgit-Baltistan have severely impacted communication services, with a fibre optic line damaged, cutting off contact between thousands of stranded tourists and their families. Despite these challenges, the GB government confirmed that hundreds have been successfully rescued from the Babusar Highway, many of whom have found shelter with local residents.
The GB Chief Minister has issued urgent orders for all available resources to be deployed in ongoing rescue operations. The Babusar Highway remains closed at several points, with adjacent roads and farmlands suffering extensive damage.
Monsoon rains also caused tragedy in neighboring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Three young siblings were killed and their mother was seriously injured when a roof collapsed in the Gujjar Banda neighborhood of Madyan in Swat due to persistent rain. The family was buried beneath the debris when the house collapsed overnight, according to Rescue 1122 spokesperson Shafiqa Gul. Rescue crews arrived right away and took the injured to Civil Hospital Madyan, where medical professionals declared the children dead.
Elsewhere in Naran, heavy rainfall caused landslides, blocking Jalkhad road with large stones and debris. Amir Khadam Khan, a spokesperson for Rescue 1122 in Mansehra, reported that a vehicle was trapped but confirmed no loss of life. The National Highways Authority (NHA) has deployed heavy machinery to clear the blocked roads and restore traffic flow.
Earlier on June 29, the GB Disaster Management Authority warned that travelers should avoid rivers, streams, and highland waterways during the monsoon rains due to the possibility of flash floods in Gilgit-Baltistan and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
This recent tragedy underscores the need for stronger disaster preparedness and public awareness as Pakistan faces increasingly volatile monsoon rains each year.