A deadly Gilgit landslide claimed the lives of at least eight volunteers and left three others injured in the early hours of Monday. The tragedy struck during restoration work on the flood-hit Danyor Nullah.
Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Faizullah Firaq said the incident happened around 2am. A group of about 15 volunteers was repairing a damaged water channel. The channel had been destroyed by recent floods. Suddenly, tonnes of mud and rocks collapsed. Several volunteers were buried under the debris.
Rescue teams, police, and local residents rushed to help. Four people were pulled out in critical condition. The injured were taken to hospitals, where an emergency was declared. Officials confirmed that medical care for the victims is ongoing.
The deceased were identified as Piyar Ali, Naik Alam, Adam Ali, Azharuddin, Afaq Azhar, Azhar, and Dildar Hussain. After funeral prayers were held in Danyor, the bodies were handed over to their families.
Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan expressed deep sorrow over the Gilgit landslide. He called the victims “heroes who gave their lives for their community.” He announced financial aid for the families and ordered free medical treatment for all the injured. Relief and rescue work has been intensified in the affected area.
This fatal landslide in Gilgit comes as the monsoon continues to devastate Pakistan. Flash floods, landslides, and urban flooding have claimed more than 260 lives nationwide. Gilgit-Baltistan remains one of the worst-hit areas.
Last month, CM Gulbar Khan reported that torrential rains had killed 10 people in the region. Four others were injured. More than 300 houses were destroyed. Between 30 and 40 percent of water channels were damaged. Around 20 kilometers of roads were also destroyed. The ongoing Gilgit landslide incidents highlight the severe impact of monsoon disasters on the region’s infrastructure and communities.
