Monsoon Fury Unleashes Devastation in PoK’s Gilgit-Baltistan; 10 Dead, Emergency Declared Across Dozens of Areas

Islamabad: Relentless monsoon rains have unleashed widespread flash floods across Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB), claiming at least ten lives and prompting authorities to impose a state of emergency in 37 regions. The scale of destruction is vast, with reports of missing tourists, injuries, and infrastructure losses estimated at over Rs 20 billion.

Local authorities confirmed that heavy rains over the past few days triggered flash floods in multiple districts, damaging homes, roads, livestock, and farmland. The areas hit the hardest include Diamer, Gilgit, Ghizer, Skardu, Shigar, Ghanche, Nagar, and Kharmang, where dozens of villages have been officially designated as disaster-affected.

“Lives have been lost, particularly among visiting tourists. Several areas remain cut off due to damaged roads and landslides,” said local official Faizullah Faraq, who added that four others injured in the flooding were receiving medical attention.

The government’s emergency notification listed several severely impacted locations: Parri Bangla, Danyor, Sultanabad, Bagrote, and Sharote in Gilgit; Biarchi and Thoi in Ghizer; Babusar and Niat Valley in Diamer; and Burgay in Skardu, among others. Emergency services have been deployed, and evacuation and relief efforts are underway.

Authorities have cited severe damage to infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and power supplies. In many areas, connectivity remains disrupted, slowing rescue operations and delivery of aid to remote communities.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of continued heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorms across several provinces. Forecasts indicate that Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, north-eastern Balochistan, PoGB, and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir could experience more rain in the coming days. Islamabad, too, faces a 40% chance of rain and possible waterlogging.

The ongoing flooding crisis highlights the growing vulnerability of northern mountainous regions to climate-induced weather extremes. With rains showing no signs of relenting, officials have urged residents and travelers to remain vigilant, avoid flood-prone areas, and follow all safety advisories.