Punjab Braces for Heavy Monsoon

News Desk

Islamabad: More than 30 tourists are reportedly missing after a cloudburst triggered flash floods and landslides along the Babusar Highway in Gilgit-Baltistan, sweeping away vehicles and cutting off key road links in the mountainous region.

At least three people have died and 15 others have been injured in the disaster, according to the Gilgit-Baltistan government. The injured have been shifted to the Regional Hospital in Chilas, where an emergency has been declared.

Among those killed were Mashal Fatima and Fahad Islam, residents of Lodhran.

The floods have caused extensive damage to infrastructure, with more than 15 vehicles, including tourist vans from Sahiwal, reportedly swept away by floodwaters. Officials said over eight kilometres of the Babusar Highway have been damaged, while road access has been blocked at numerous points across Diamer district.

The Karakoram Highway has also been closed at Tatta Pani and Lal Pahari because of heavy debris and flooding, further complicating the movement of tourists and rescue teams.

Diamer Deputy Commissioner Attaur Rehman said the cloudburst occurred at around 3:30pm, triggering landslides across a seven- to eight-kilometre area. Rescue teams were working around the clock to locate missing people and reopen blocked roads, he said.

The disaster has also disrupted communication networks, making it difficult for authorities to coordinate rescue efforts. Local residents have opened their homes to stranded visitors, while some tourists have been moved to schools being used as temporary shelters.

Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Faizullah Firaq said hundreds of tourists had already been rescued and shifted to safer locations. Medical assistance was being provided to the injured, while additional machinery was being sent from Naran to accelerate road-clearing operations.

The provincial government has also begun distributing ration packets and tents in affected areas of Ghizer and Baltistan. Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan has directed authorities to deploy all available resources for rescue and relief operations.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority has advised people to avoid unnecessary travel to flood-hit areas and is coordinating with local authorities to monitor the situation and restore connectivity.

The crisis comes as Punjab remains under flood alerts amid forecasts of heavy monsoon rains, with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority warning of possible flooding in rivers and streams in the province.