A powerful disaster has struck Babusar Highway in Gilgit-Baltistan. Flash floods and landslides, caused by intense cloudbursts, have claimed at least three lives. Fifteen people are injured. More than 30 tourists are missing. The situation is critical, officials say.
The Gilgit-Baltistan government’s spokesperson confirmed two of the deceased. A woman named Mashal Fatima and a man named Fahad Islam, both from Lodhran, lost their lives. The injured have been taken to Regional Hospital Chilas. An emergency has been declared at the facility.
Over 15 vehicles, including tourist vans from Sahiwal, were swept away. The deadly Babusar Highway flood destroyed more than 8 kilometers of the road. Authorities said roads are now blocked in 14 to 20 spots. Diamer district is the worst affected. Both Babusar and Karakoram Highways are damaged. Karakoram Highway is blocked at Tatta Pani and Lal Pahari due to heavy debris and water.
Rescue and recovery efforts are underway. Search teams are working around the clock. Their priority is to find the missing tourists and clear the highways. Diamer Deputy Commissioner Attaur Rehman said the flash flood started around 3:30 pm. The storm brought landslides across 7 to 8 kilometers. Many vehicles were caught and washed away. He confirmed that machines and rescue workers are active and non-stop.
Locals have come forward in the time of crisis. Many opened their homes to tourists. Others were taken to nearby schools for safety and shelter.
The cloudburst disaster has disrupted communication lines. This has made rescue coordination difficult. Thousands of tourists are stranded. However, many have been successfully rescued, officials noted.
Faizullah Firaq, the GB government spokesperson, said injured tourists are receiving medical help. Additional machines are being sent from Naran to speed up relief operations. He added that the group of tourists from Sahiwal is now safe.
The government has mobilized aid. Relief teams are distributing ration packets and tents. Aid is also being sent to Ghizer district and parts of Baltistan. The goal is to help affected families and restore some normalcy. Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan ordered all departments to use every resource available. The rescue mission must continue with full force, he said.
In a new advisory, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned the public. It urged everyone to avoid travel to areas hit by the Babusar Highway flood. NDMA teams are working with local officials to reopen roads and monitor the ongoing emergency.
The disaster has brought tourism to a sudden halt. It has damaged roads, cut off communication, and left many families in distress. The crisis along Babusar Highway will be remembered for its destruction, but also for the resilience shown by local communities and rescuers.