Azad Pattan, July 21, 2025: A passenger coach was immobilised due to a landslide triggered by heavy rains in the Azad Patan area, Azad Kashmir.
The passenger coach is precariously close to slipping into the river below, leaving the frightened passengers stranded in Azad Pattan.
Read more: What’s behind the sudden closure of the Karakoram Highway?
| Incident Location | Azad Pattan |
| Cause | Landslides caused by heavy rain |
| Impact | Passenger coach stuck, road blocked, risk of river fall |
| Traffic | Hundreds in vehicle delayed |
| Administrative Response | Assistance delayed due to access difficulties |
Growing impact of the 2025 monsoon rains
This year’s monsoon brought unusually heavy and sustained rainfall across northern Pakistan, including parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The heavy showers aggravated river flooding and caused multiple landslides. It also severely disrupted the transport routes.
The northern Pakistan has seen its share of flash floods and mudslides washing away roads and isolating communities. Authorities are struggling to clear debris from critical passages such as the Kahuta-Azad Pattan road, a key link to Azad Kashmir that has been closed several times due to landslides in past.
Government’s response to rising floods, landslides
The government, along with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), has been issuing warnings and deploying rescue teams to the affected areas.
Read more: Cars swept away in Islamabad due to flooding
Efforts includes improving early warning systems, speeding up road clearance operations, and arranging shelters for displaced people.
