Three killed, dozens stranded as flash floods hit GB’s Babusar Road after cloudburst

A sudden cloudburst triggered powerful flash floods and landslides along Babusar Road in Gilgit‑Baltistan on July 21, leading to the tragic deaths of three individuals and leaving dozens of tourists and locals stranded.

Rescue teams, working alongside NDMA, district administration, local police, and volunteers, scrambled to clear debris and evacuate those trapped across a 7–8 km route between Jal and Diyung. At least 14–15 major blockages—caused by boulders, mudslides, and raging torrents—rendered key stretches of Babusar Road and parts of the Karakoram Highway (Lal Parhi and Tatta Pani) impassable, trapping 10–15 vehicles in swollen nullahs.

Emergency responders airlifted nearly 200 tourists to safety via army helicopters and evacuated many more using college buses and police transport to Chilas. Local residents also played a vital role; hotels and homes across Sadpara, Thalichi, and Chilas opened doors to those displaced.

The Diamer district deputy commissioner confirmed the recovery of three fatalities at Chilas Regional Headquarters Hospital, while one injured person remains under treatment. Authorities continue to search for up to 15 missing tourists reported in the worst-hit sections.

This disaster compounds Pakistan’s relentless monsoon onslaught, which has claimed over 180 lives and injured more than 500 across the country since June. Gilgit‑Baltistan alone has seen cloudburst‑induced damage to homes, farms, roads, and irrigation systems.

A fresh weather alert spans until July 25, warning of ongoing heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides in high‑risk zones like GB, KP, and Kashmir. Authorities urge tourists to avoid vulnerable routes such as Babusar Road and Kaghan Valley until further notice.

#BabusarRoad #FlashFlood #GilgitBaltistan #Cloudburst #NDMA #Monsoon2025 #TouristSafety #LandslideRisk