Kashmir’s GB Rescue Mission Concludes as Flood Threats Escalate Across North
GILGIT-BALTISTAN — Authorities in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) confirmed Wednesday that all 250 tourists stranded on the flood-ravaged Babusar Road have been rescued and relocated to the town of Chilas, even as search teams continue to look for several people still reported missing, reported by “The News”.
The GB government spokesperson, Faizullah Firaq, said evacuations have also been completed on Deosai Plains. Both the Silk Road and Babusar Road remain closed due to landslides and heavy flooding triggered by torrential monsoon rains.
Monday’s flash floods devastated parts of GB’s Diamer district, killing at least five people, including four tourists. A cloudburst at Babusar Top—a popular mountain destination—left scores injured and dozens temporarily stranded.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a nationwide alert, warning of continued monsoon rains, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and landslides through July 25. Travelers are strongly advised to avoid GB, Kashmir, and other mountainous regions until conditions stabilize.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government, which is working with neighboring countries on coordinated disaster and migration responses, faces mounting pressure as floods have already killed 234 people nationwide this monsoon season.
In GB, the Karakoram Highway has again been blocked at two locations, trapping thousands. Free lodging for stranded travelers is being provided by local hotel owners and the provincial government. CM Haji Gulbar Khan is scheduled to visit Babusar Road today to assess recovery operations.
The NDMA warns that flood risks remain high across upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, GB, and Azad Kashmir. Rising river levels are anticipated in the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, and Kabul rivers. Flash floods may also impact Hunza, Shigar, and Shimshal valleys.
Rainfall is forecast to continue across Punjab, KP, Sindh, Balochistan, and AJK, further elevating flood risks. Local authorities have been instructed to activate emergency response protocols, deploy dewatering pumps, and restrict access to dangerous roads, bridges, and waterways.
