6 dead, 15 missing in Chitral, GB floods

GILGIT/ MANSEHRA/ CHITRAL: Torrential rains have wreaked havoc in various parts of the country, claiming multiple lives and triggering widespread disruptions. In Gilgit-Baltistan, three people have died and over a dozen are missing, while in Kaghan, three tourists lost their lives when their vehicle was hit by mud and rockslides.

At least three people were killed and more than 15 others went missing after flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall ravaged the scenic Babusar route in Gilgit-Baltistan on Monday, officials said. The flood swept away eight vehicles carrying tourists, leaving highways severely damaged and communication networks disrupted.

Rescuers retrieved three bodies and pulled out four injured survivors, one of whom is said to be in critical condition. Emergency teams, including local administration and disaster management personnel, are engaged in search operations for the missing tourists amid challenging conditions. “The fiber optic system has been damaged, disrupting communication,” a police official said, adding that hundreds of tourists remain stranded with no means to contact their families.

Officials confirmed that some stranded travelers have been rescued and provided temporary shelter by local residents. “Hundreds of tourists have been rescued so far, but many are still unaccounted for,” Faizullah Faraq, spokesperson for the Gilgit-Baltistan government told The News. Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan directed authorities to expedite rescue efforts, mobilizing all available resources. The floods have caused extensive damage to the Babusar Top Highway at multiple points, rendering it impassable. Farmlands along the route have also been devastated.

Similar flooding was reported in parts of Baltistan, where rising waters damaged roads and disrupted travel. Authorities have advised against unnecessary movement in affected areas until the situation stabilizes. Preliminary reports indicate some of the deceased were tourists from Lodhran district in Punjab. Identification of other victims is underway.

Meanwhile, the fourth spell of rains forecast to continue until July 25, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said.

According to a PDMA spokesperson, this latest monsoon spell is expected to be more intense, with rainfall likely in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Gujrat, Jhelum, and Gujranwala. Rain is also expected in Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Sargodha, Mianwali, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, and Multan.

PDMA Director General Irfan Ali said rainfall in the upper catchment areas of rivers poses a risk of increased water flow, prompting the authority to issue alerts for possible flooding in Punjab’s rivers and streams. He warned of rising levels in the Ravi, Jhelum, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers. The Indus is experiencing a moderate-level flood at Taunsa, while low-level floods are ongoing at Tarbela, Kalabagh, and Chashma, according to the DG PDMA.

According to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said that at least 13 more people succumbed to rain-flood-related accidents during the last 24 hours as heavy monsoons continue to lash parts of Pakistan. The latest deaths bring the tally of total lives lost since June 26 to at least 216, according to NDMA.

The torrential downpours triggered flooding and structural collapses, with most deaths resulting from the roofs of poorly built homes giving way. At least 12 deaths were reported in Punjab and one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Among the victims were four children and three women, as per the NDMA handout. Punjab alone has reported 135 deaths, followed by 42 in KP, 21 in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan, and one each in Islamabad and Azad Kashmir. Since the start of this deadly spell, 101 children have died.