At the well-known mountainous location of Babusar Top in Gilgit-Baltistan, a sudden cloudburst on Monday led to severe torrential rains and landslides, creating a catastrophic situation. Three tourists have lost their lives in the disaster, while 15 people remain missing.
According to details, due to the cloudburst, flash floods and mudslides occurred across a 7 to 8-kilometer area, resulting in road closures at various points. Roads have become impassable at 14 to 15 locations, and more than 15 vehicles have been swept away by the floodwaters.
Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of three individuals, while the search for the remaining missing persons and vehicles is ongoing. Several stranded tourists have been moved to safe locations. According to the spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Authority, the affected tourists have been relocated to safe shelters established in Chilas.
One injured individual is receiving medical treatment at the Regional Headquarters Hospital; however, access to some areas is still not possible as large rocks and debris have completely blocked the routes.
The Karakoram Highway remains closed at Lal Pahari and Tatta Pani due to extensive damage. The local administration and National Disaster Management Authority are closely monitoring the situation, and relief operations are in full swing.
The Authority has warned the public to avoid unnecessary travel towards Kohistan, while the district administration has been instructed to take all possible precautionary measures.
Two of the deceased tourists have been identified: Mashal Fatima from Lodhran and Farhat Islam from Bahawalpur, according to Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Faizullah Firaq.
An emergency has been declared at Chilas Hospital to ensure immediate medical aid for the victims. The search and rescue operation for the missing individuals is ongoing. The Gilgit-Baltistan government has started distributing food packets and tents in the affected areas to provide basic necessities to the flood victims.
This natural disaster has not only resulted in the loss of human lives but also caused severe damage to the local infrastructure, the restoration of which will take time.
