GILGIT: Rain disrupted life in Gilgit-Baltistan as rainwater entered several houses in Hudor village of Diamer on Friday. Besides,Local administration also warned of possible glacial lake outburst floods across GB this week.

KKH, Babusar Pass road, Ghizer Chitral Road, many link roads remained closed at multiple locations in Diamer and Kohistan areas. Thousands of passengers and tourists faced difficulties in reaching their destinations. Electricity supply in Gilgit city and Ghizer district areas remained suspended due to rain.

Official said electricity supply from 14 Megawatts Naltar power house remained suspended since Wednesday due to some technical fault. Electricity supply remained disrupted in many areas of Ghizer, Diamer.

The Secretary of Works Department, Safdar Khan emphasized the need for preparedness to deal with untoward situations. He said: “We understand the severity of the situation caused by the floods and the importance of timely intervention.

“Our teams are working tirelessly to restore the road links and alleviate the hardships faced by the affected communities.

“Additionally, we are actively assessing the need for more machinery and equipment to bolster our capacity to address future challenges,” he said. At least one passenger was killed and 11 others were injured in two road accidents and rain related incidents in Ghizer and Hunza.

According to Rescue 1122 officials, a passenger van, carrying 19 people including women, was on its way to Bathrat village from Ghupis Valley in Ghizer when

It plunged into a ravine near Shedar area. Two of the injured were in critical condition and were shifted to the Gilgit Hospital while two were referred to the Gupis Hospital in Ghizer.

Rescue 1122 officials said that three others were shifted to the Ghizer District Headquarters Hospital while the rest of the injured were sent home after providing them first aid.

Officials said rain has caused landslides and mudslides in the area. However, cause of the accident is being investigated. The passengers in the ill fated passenger van were local.

Meanwhile, four tourists were injured in road accidents at the same place on Karakoram Highway (KKH) near Sust town of Hunza. Three passenger vehicles overturned at KKH in Morkhon village near Sust Town on Thursday. According to officials, the section of KKH, where accidents occurred was hit by landslides after rain.

All the patients have been sent to Aliabad Hunza after giving first aid at Sust Civil Dispensary. Their condition was stated to be stable.

Earlier on July 16, a bus carrying tourists fell into a ravine on the Karakoram Highway near the Thalichi area in GB’s Diamer district claiming six people’s lives.

In another accident the same week, four people were killed when a Gilgit-bound car plunged into a deep ravine in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lower Kohistan district.

Published in Dawn, July 22th, 2023