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15 feared missing as flash floods sweep through Babusar Road

Severe rains and flash floods have wreaked havoc in Gilgit-Baltistan, where 10 to 15 people have been reported missing after being swept away by floodwaters in the Babusar area, said Faizullah Firaq, spokesperson for the Gilgit-Baltistan government, on Wednesday.  The government has issued a strong advisory urging tourists to avoid traveling to the region for now. Speaking to a private news channel, Faizullah said that the torrential rains and flooding have caused significant loss to life and property. He confirmed that all tourists stranded on Babusar Road have been successfully rescued and are being provided free accommodation by local hotel owners and the government. Read: Monsoon mayhem claims 234 lives He added that all routes to Naran and Kaghan are currently closed, while the Karakoram Highway was blocked at two points, leaving scores of travelers stranded in different locations. However, the Silk Route remains open for small vehicles, and restoration work up to Bisham is progressing swiftly, he added. Faizullah urged the public to avoid traveling to G-B until conditions normalize. He also mentioned that G-B Chief Minister Gulbar Khan is scheduled to visit the affected areas, especially Babusar, today to assess the situation firsthand. In Diamer, a state of emergency has been declared, where flash floods have already claimed five lives. Earlier, floods swept away over 30 vehicles, completely destroying 10 to 15 of them and rendered seven to eight kilometres of Babusar Road impassable. Four connecting bridges, two mosques and more than 50 houses were also destroyed, while fibre optic and electricity lines were damaged, cutting off communications. Tourists in Thak and Babusar consequently lost contact with their families. Flash flood alert for Northern Pakistan Meanwhile, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued an advisory for 23rd and 24th July, warning that heavy rains may trigger flash floods in local nullahs and streams across Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Buner, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan, Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Dera Ghazi Khan’s hill torrents, northeast Punjab, and Kashmir. Monsoon rains persist in most upper parts of Pakistan July 23, 2025#PMD #WeatherAlert #heavyrainwatch #PakistanWeather #StormPreparedness #monsoon2025 #RainAlert #StaySafeStayPrepared pic.twitter.com/HXa7KIrMo9 — Pak Met Department محکمہ موسمیات (@pmdgov) July 23, 2025 Across Pakistan, widespread monsoon activity is being driven by a seasonal low over northwest Balochistan and moist currents from the Arabian Sea. A westerly wave is also influencing the upper regions of the country, bringing unstable conditions and an elevated risk of flash floods, landslides and infrastructural damage. Photo: NDMA Read more: Monsoon devastation continues as death toll reaches 242 Urban flooding is also a concern in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Okara, Nowshera and Peshawar, where heavy downpours are likely to overwhelm drainage systems, the Met Office warned. Local authorities are monitoring low-lying areas for potential urban flooding, particularly as drainage systems remain under pressure from increased moisture levels and seasonal runoff. Karachi braces for thunderstorms, rain Karachi is likely to face thunderstorms accompanied by rain as the PMD issued a fresh warning for parts of Sindh, forecasting “partly cloudy thunderstorm rain” in the port city on Wednesday. Sunny weather is expected on Thursday with no rain predicted, while Friday may see partly cloudy skies without rainfall. Coastal areas such as Thatta may also witness light showers, while hot and humid conditions will persist across southern Sindh. Landslide warnings for mountainous regions In mountainous regions of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, the threat of landslides and mudslides remains high, raising the risk of road closures and transport disruptions. PMD officials have cautioned against non-essential travel in these areas during the forecast period. Forecasts for Wednesday and Thursday suggest rain, wind and thundershowers are likely in Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and northeast Balochistan, with very heavy falls expected in upper K-P, G-B, Pothohar region, northeast Punjab and Kashmir. In Kashmir, Muzaffarabad received 49 mm and Kotli 16 mm. K-P saw moderate rainfall with 31mm in Kakul and 26mm in Balakot. In G-B, Bagrote recorded 9mm of rain.

from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/5CZg43W
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