ISLAMABAD( The COW News Digital) National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warning tourists against travel to northern areas of the country till July 25 has relayed that Karakorum Highway and Babusar Top have been closed from both sides due to land sliding.
According to the NDMA spokesperson, heavy rains in the northern areas have raised concerns of flooding due to landslides and Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) events. The affected areas include Reshun, Brep, Booni, Sardar Gol, Thulo, Hunarchi, Darkut, and Ishkoman.
The spokesperson further stated that in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, there is a risk of flooding in the Swat and Panjkora rivers and other streams, while in Gilgit-Baltistan, flood-like conditions may arise in the Hunza and Shigar rivers as well as nearby streams.
There is also a threat of flash floods in Shimshal, Hushe, Saltoro, and adjacent regions. In Balochistan, rivers and streams in Zhob, Sherani, Sibi, and Musakhel are also at risk of swelling.
Gilgit-Baltistan Information Minister Iman Shah, while advising tourists to postpone travel to Babusar Top until the situation normalises, has termed the ongoing flood situation in the region as alarming, confirming that six people have lost their lives so far.
Speaking on Hum News morning show “Subh Se Aagey”, she expressed condolences to the families of the victims and said cloudburst incidents had triggered severe flooding in Babusar and surrounding areas.
She said that relief operations have been underway for the past 48 hours, and rescuing those affected remains the government’s top priority. More than 18 vehicles have been swept away by the floodwaters, and 15 tourists are still missing, she added.
Iman Shah also revealed that the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) had issued a flood alert 10 days in advance to prepare for any emergency. She praised the Pakistan Army’s role in ongoing rescue efforts, calling it commendable.
Separately, Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq also addressed the crisis during a private news channel’s morning show. He said that 10 to 15 people swept away on the Babusar Highway are still missing, while five deaths have been confirmed.
Faizullah Faraq said the recent rains and flash floods had caused extensive damage across Gilgit-Baltistan. He added that Naran-Kaghan route is completely closed, while the Silk Road remains open for light traffic.
