GILGIT/KHAPLU: A mudslide swept over a group of villagers attempting to fix a water channel in the Danyor area of Gilgit-Baltistan damaged in monsoon rains, killing seven people and leaving six others injured in the early hours of Monday, officials said.
More than 300 people have been killed across the country since the monsoon season began in last week of June, the National Disaster Management Authority said.
Thirteen volunteers were attempting to fix the main water channel from Danyor nullah to Danyor town when a mudslide buried them, according to Gilgit’s Rescue 1122. GB government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq said
volunteers’ count was
- Rescue 1122 also claimed District Emergency Officer (operations) Abdul Basit was supervising the restoration work at the time of the incident.
Seven bodies were recovered and the injured were rushed to hospitals. An emergency has been declared in hospitals in Gilgit, the spokesperson added.
Later in the day, funeral prayers were offered for the volunteers who died in the tragic incident, while residents also protested at Danyor Chowk against the government for failing to restore the water supply despite repeated assurances, Dawn.com reported.
On July 22, a flash flood in Danyor nullah inundated residential communities and damaged crops and irrigation channels. The deluge also damaged link roads and suspension bridges, cutting road links to affected areas.
Hussain Akbar Shah, one of the locals, said thousands of Danyor residents were facing a shortage of drinking water and irrigation water as the valley depended on water from the nullah.
Social activist Ghulam Abbas blamed the government’s alleged negligence, explaining that the incident might not have occurred if the authorities had restored the water channel.
Area elders led by former minister Muhammad Iqbal said residents had managed to temporarily restore it, but subsequent flooding destroyed it again. The protesters warned that the government must take immediate action or else they would launch a protest movement.
On the other hand, GB Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan expressed his condolences on the incident and announced compensation for the bereaved families as per government policy. He also issued directives to authorities for provision of best medical treatment to the injured.
In a statement, GB government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq said, “Our hearts are saddened by this unfortunate accident. Gilgit is in a state of mourning.”
With input from AFP
Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2025
