Gilgit Baltistan government said that devastating flash floods continue to batter Gilgit-Baltistan as death toll climbing to 10. The search and rescue operations continued across affected districts of the province, reported 24NewsHDTV Channel.
Authorities recovered the body of an unidentified woman from the Indus River near Minar in the Chilas region. Officials believe the deceased may be one of the tourists swept away in the Babusar Top floods earlier this week. Pakistan Army, along with the local administration and rescue agencies, continues extensive search operations along the Babusar Highway. In Ghanche, Ghizer, and parts of Gilgit district, relief efforts are also ongoing to support affected communities. Most of the tourists stranded in Fairy Meadows have been successfully rescued and shifted to safer locations, the spokesperson confirmed. Efforts are still underway to ensure all remaining individuals are accounted for and relocated.
Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Haji Gulbar Khan has ordered the immediate start of rescue and relief operations and personally reviewed the relief and rescue operations in the affected areas. The Pakistan Army, FCNA and provincial institutions together shifted tourists and local victims to safe places, while tents, rations and medical aid were provided.
Federal Secretary for Communications and Works Sher Alam Masood also visited the Babusar Highway along with the Chilas administration and police. Provincial Government spokesperson said rescue and search operations have been further intensified across the province.
The flash floods have caused widespread destruction in Gilgit-Baltistan. A powerful flood entered the suburban area of Danyore, altering the course of the Hunza River. The torrent washed away several riverside homes, trees, and large swathes of cultivated land. In Chilas Thak Babusar, flash floods have devastated entire communities. Houses, access roads, livestock shelters, and hundreds of acres of farmland have been swept away. Affected families are now without shelter under the open sky.
The search for missing persons is ongoing, with the Pakistan Army, Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts, and other agencies engaged in rescue operations. The army is also using advanced ground surveillance radar systems to help locate people who may be trapped or swept away in hard-to-reach areas.
Meanwhile, the Karakoram Highway has been cleared for all types of traffic, restoring vital connectivity to the region. The spokesperson added that the damages caused by the floods are estimated at over Rs20 billion. Highlighting the region’s limited resources, he stressed that Gilgit-Baltistan, which operates on a grant-in-aid basis, cannot manage the recovery process alone.
GB spokesperson Faizullah Firaq appealed to the federal government to announce a special grant to help the province recover from the large-scale destruction caused by the floods.
Met office forecast new monsoon spell across country from Monday
Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast the start of a new monsoon spell across the country from Monday, warning of heavy rainfall in several areas. Authorities have expressed concerns over potential flash floods in streams and rivers, as well as urban flooding in low-lying areas. According to the Met Office, rainfall is expected in Islamabad, parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab from July 28 to July 31. In Balochistan, rain is likely from July 29 to July 31, while Sindh may receive showers on July 30 and 31.
Some areas could witness intense downpours, increasing the risk of flooding in local waterways and landslides in hilly regions. Tourists and travelers have been advised to plan their trips keeping the weather conditions in mind.
Monsoon rains trigger medium-level flood in Punjab, 143 killed
Ongoing monsoon rains have raised the risk of flooding in Punjab’s rivers and streams, with medium-level flooding recorded at Kalabagh and Chashma on the Indus River. According to a fact sheet released by the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the recent spell of monsoon rains has claimed 143 lives across the province, while 488 people have been injured. The report further states that 200 houses have been destroyed and 121 livestock have perished.
PDMA Director General Irfan Kathia warned of possible urban flooding in Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot, and Gujranwala. While water flow in the Chenab, Ravi, Jhelum, and Sutlej rivers remains normal, medium-level flooding has been observed at key points along the Indus.
The fourth wave of monsoon rains is expected to continue until July 25, and further rainfall is forecast for several districts, including Lahore and Rawalpindi. Provincial authorities and relevant departments have been placed on alert following directives from the Punjab chief minister.
Citizens are advised to take precautions and avoid unnecessary travel, especially those residing in low-lying areas. At least 10 people lost their lives and 13 others were injured in rain-related incidents over the past 24 hours, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Tuesday.
According to the NDMA, the fatalities included four each from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and two from Gilgit-Baltistan. Among the injured were seven from Punjab, two from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one from Azad Kashmir and three from Islamabad. The NDMA added that from June 26 to July 23, a total of 252 people have died while 611 others have sustained injuries due to monsoon-related incidents. During the same period, 1,005 houses have been damaged and 328 livestock lost.
The authority continues to monitor the situation and coordinate relief efforts with provincial and district administrations.