Flash Floods Triggered by Cloudburst Kill Three in Gilgit-Baltistan, Disrupt Key Tourist Route
Islamabad The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) announced this week that a cloudburst caused flash floods and landslides that seriously damaged the key Babusar Road in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region, killing at least three persons and injuring one.
Incident Overview
The disaster struck at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday when a sudden cloudburst caused massive flooding along a 7-8 kilometer stretch of Babusar Road—a vital mountain route connecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Kaghan Valley to GB. The floods led to 14-15 major blockages due to landslides, debris, and raging water streams.
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Casualties: Three bodies were recovered and shifted to Chilas Regional Headquarters, while one injured person remains under treatment.
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Rescue Operations: Authorities evacuated stranded tourists from multiple points along the route.
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Access Challenges: The Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Diamer surveyed the site but could only reach the road’s midpoint due to heavy boulder deposits blocking further passage.
Extent of Damage
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Road Closures: Babusar Road remains severely blocked, while the Karakoram Highway is obstructed at Lal Pari and Tatta Pani.
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Stranded Vehicles: An estimated 10-15 vehicles are trapped in floodwaters and landslide-affected zones.
Monsoon Warnings & Nationwide Impact
The incident coincides with a fresh monsoon alert issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), predicting heavy rains across the country until July 25. The NDMA’s latest report highlights:
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221 deaths and 591 injuries nationwide since the monsoon began.
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Punjab is the worst-hit province (135 fatalities), followed by KP (46), Sindh (22), Balochistan (16), Islamabad (1), and Azad Kashmir (1).
Risks Ahead
The PMD has warned of potential:
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Landslides in vulnerable areas like Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, and GB.
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Damage to infrastructure, including weak buildings, electric poles, and vehicles, due to windstorms and lightning.
Localized Disasters
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Islamabad: Recorded 184 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, causing urban flooding in Saidpur Village. Viral footage showed cars being swept away by violent nullah currents.
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KP Province: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported 10 deaths (including six children) and two injuries in rain-related incidents across Swat, Bajaur, Buner, and Upper Chitral.
Broader Context
South Asia’s monsoon season delivers 70-80% of the region’s annual rainfall, lasting from June to September. Pakistan remains particularly vulnerable after the 2022 floods, which submerged a third of the country, killing 1,700+ people and displacing 8 million. Earlier this year, 32 fatalities were reported from severe storms and hailstorms in May.
Response & Preparedness
Authorities are monitoring high-risk zones and coordinating evacuations, but the scale of monsoon-related disasters continues to strain resources. The NDMA has urged residents in low-lying and mountainous areas to exercise extreme caution.