Islamabad 15 August: At least ten people, including women and children, lost their lives on Thursday as heavy monsoon rains triggered flash floods and landslides across Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), officials confirmed.
The AJK government announced the closure of all public and private schools on August 15 and 16 due to persistent downpours and the heightened risk of landslides. According to media reports around 700 tourists are reported stranded when a section of road was washed away in cloud burst.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had earlier warned of intensifying monsoon activity, forecasting rain, wind, and thunderstorms — with scattered heavy falls — in Islamabad, AJK, upper Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and GB from August 14 to 17.
Widespread Destruction in Gilgit-Baltistan
In GB’s Ghizer district, eight people were killed and two injured, while in Diamer district, a brother and sister lost their lives and two others were hurt, GB government spokesperson Faizullah Firaq said. He noted that several damaged roads were under repair, with Babusar Highway reopened at Loshi Point and Karakoram Highway cleared at Gandlu Point.
Floodwaters in Gilgit city damaged the main Naltar power station, plunging the area into darkness. Authorities moved residents in Baseen, living near the river, to safer areas as a precaution.
In Chilas, rising water levels in the Indus River at Soniwal Kot inundated nearby settlements, damaging homes.
READ MORE: Massive Land Slides & Flooding in Gilgit- Baltistan
AJK Launches Emergency Measures
In AJK’s Neelum Valley, landslides blocked key routes, but debris was cleared at Barian Seri, restoring access to Athmuqam. However, in Kutten, two bridges and three link bridges over the Lawat stream were swept away. The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) reported that several tourists remained stranded at the Ratti Gali base camp.
AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq, chairing a State Disaster Management Authority meeting in Muzaffarabad, ordered the relocation of residents along riverbanks, financial aid for affected families, and housing for those whose homes were destroyed. He also directed inspections of power infrastructure in Jhelum, Neelum and Bagh, the establishment of emergency checkpoints, and an operation to remove riverbank encroachments.
Hundreds of Tourists Stranded
Information Minister Mazhar Saeed, speaking from Ratti Gali, said over 700 tourists — including more than 300 women and children — were stranded after a cloudburst washed away sections of the road. Bad weather has prevented their evacuation, prompting authorities to provide free shelter with the help of local residents.
Relief efforts are under way across the affected areas as authorities race to restore power, reopen routes, and assist displaced residents.
