Flash floods wreak havoc in Gilgit-Baltistan: Tourists among dead and missing

SKARDU/DIAMER: Devastating flash floods triggered by heavy rains swept through several parts of Gilgit-Baltistan on Monday evening, causing widespread damage to property and infrastructure, and claiming multiple lives, including those of three tourists.
In the Thak Babusar area of Diamer district, three tourists tragically lost their lives, several others sustained injuries, and at least 15 people were reported missing after a massive flood hit the region. Local sources said the victims were travelling through the mountainous area when they were caught in the sudden surge of water.
Rescue operations have been launched, but efforts have been hindered by washed-out roads and difficult terrain. Local volunteers are actively engaged in the search, though residents have complained about the absence of any government response or machinery at the site. “We’ve seen no official help so far. People are digging through mud and rocks with their bare hands,” said a local resident near the affected area.
In Skardu, the situation remains grim, particularly in Gayool and Shigari Khurd, where flash floods from Gayool, Shigaribala, and Burgay nullahs destroyed homes, farmlands, trees, and roads. Several families have been displaced and are seeking shelter in safer zones.
Images and videos shared on social media show large swathes of land submerged under water, collapsed boundary walls, and muddy torrents cutting through residential areas.
While rescue and relief operations are reportedly under way, the pace of official assistance has been criticized by locals who say that no government teams have reached many affected villages.
Heavy monsoon rains have triggered multiple such incidents in northern Pakistan this month, underscoring the region’s growing vulnerability to climate-induced disasters.
Local authorities have yet to issue a formal statement on the missing tourists or the timeline for restoring connectivity and delivering aid to the flood-hit regions.