Islamabad [Pakistan], July 28 (ANI): At least 10 people have died due to recent flooding in the Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) region, as rescue operations continue and stranded tourists are being evacuated to safety, Dawn reported on Sunday, citing regional officials.
The region has been grappling with the alarming consequences of climate change, including heatwaves, erratic weather patterns, glacial melt, and cloudbursts that have triggered severe flooding. The floods, which began last week, caused widespread devastation, triggering landslides and cutting off access to many areas. Over 500 homes, key roads, and essential infrastructure have been damaged.
According to Dawn, citing a local official, the confirmed death toll stands at 10. Seven deaths were reported in Babusar Valley, two in Thore Valley (Diamer District), and one in the Astore District. Additionally, a woman’s body was recovered from the Indus River in Chilas’s Minar area, believed to be one of the tourists swept away on the Babusar Highway.
Faizullah Faraq, an official in the region, stated that between 10 and 12 tourists remain missing in Babusar Valley. Search operations, led by the Pakistan Army, district authorities, and other rescue agencies, are ongoing.
Faraq added that most tourists trapped in Fairy Meadows have been safely rescued, and the strategically important Silk Road has been reopened to traffic. He estimated the total damage from the floods to be around PKR 20 billion.
Highlighting the dire financial situation, Faraq appealed to the federal government for a substantial relief package, noting that PoGB relies heavily on federal grants and lacks the resources to manage the crisis independently.
On Saturday, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan also appealed to the central government for PKR 7 billion in emergency aid. He described the destruction across all seven districts as unprecedented, with Diamer being the worst-hit.
According to Khan, 300 homes have been completely destroyed, 200 partially damaged, and 40 water channels across 30 villages washed away. Critical infrastructure—including 15 kilometers of roads, multiple bridges, farmlands, and both public and private property—has sustained severe damage.
Khan also criticized the insufficient emergency preparedness, pointing out that only PKR 1 billion had been allocated for disaster response in the regional budget, while the local government remains burdened with PKR 3 billion in unpaid liabilities from previous disasters.
“Flooding has become an almost daily occurrence in the region,” Khan warned, calling for urgent federal intervention and a long-term climate resilience strategy.
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