Lightning, flood kill 46 in Gilgit-Baltistan

Published
0

People of the region are facing immense hardship because Karakoram Highway and link roads are blocked for 12 days and all flights have been suspended. - Photo by AFP.
GILGIT Forty-six people were killed and 30 injured by lightning and flash floods in Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, officials told Dawn on Wednesday. Ten people are missing.

The officials said lightning struck Gais Bala, about 25km south of Chilas, on Wednesday, killing 35 people who had left their flood-ravaged village and taken refuge on a hill two days ago.

Police chief Ali Sher said the village was cut off after a suspension bridge linking it with Karakoram Highway was destroyed by the Indus surge.

Another 11 people were killed in Khinar valley. Their bodies were found on Tuesday.

The floods have so far killed over 100 people in Gilgit-Baltistan, 58 of them in Baltistan.

People of the region are facing immense hardship because Karakoram Highway and link roads are blocked for 12 days and all flights have been suspended.

There is an acute shortage of medicines in hospitals in the region.

Opinion

Editorial

Parliament’s place
Updated 11 Oct, 2026

Parliament’s place

In 2015, the parliament had decided to “maintain neutrality in the Yemen conflict so as to be able to play a proactive diplomatic role to end the crisis”.
Disturbing the peace
11 Oct, 2026

Disturbing the peace

THIS year’s Nobel Peace Prize is well-earned. The winner, South African jurist Dr Navi Pillay, has had an...
A voice in care
10 Oct, 2026

A voice in care

WORLD Mental Health Day this year carries a compelling message. The theme, ‘Lived experiences heard: real voices,...
Midterm break
Updated 10 Oct, 2026

Midterm break

Both the US and Israel need to halt their destructive misadventures in the Middle East.
American barbarism
Updated 10 Oct, 2026

American barbarism

WITH the spectre of defeat in the upcoming midterm elections looming large over the Trump administration, the...