G-B seeks federal help as flood death toll reaches 10

GILGIT: As the death toll from flash floods in the region rose to 10 and the search for missing tourists continued, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Gulbar Khan on Saturday sought the federal government’s help in aid and rescue operations.

Addressing a press conference in Gilgit alongside his cabinet members, Gulbar Khan revealed that he had written a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, seeking his intervention.

The chief minister confirmed that at least 10 people — including seven in the Thak area on Babusar Road, two children in Thore Diamer, and one woman in Astore — had lost their lives due to the recent floods in the region.

“Three hundred houses were fully damaged, 200 partially damaged, 40 water channels destroyed, and 15 to 20 kilometers of road washed away. Power and water supply connections have also suffered significant damage. A rough estimate of the losses is Rs 15 to 20 billion,” he added.

Gulbar Khan said that the devastation caused by the floods was beyond the capacity of the regional government to handle.

“I appeal to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Army Chief to step in and assist the G-B government in managing the situation. We urgently require Rs 6-7 billion to restore basic services by repairing electricity, water supply, and road infrastructure,” he said.

In a statement, Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq said search and rescue operations had been intensified, along with the distribution of essential items and tents.

“So far, the relatives of two missing tourists have contacted the government, reporting that their loved ones are missing.  It is expected that the number of tourists missing due to the flash floods on Babusar Road will be very low,” he said.

Faraq said communication systems on Babusar Road had been restored with the cooperation of the Special Communication Organization (SCO).

He said Babusar Road had been cleared of flood debris at eight locations and restored up to the Khomal area, adding that the full restoration of Babusar Road was expected to be completed within the next 72 hours.

The spokesperson said Ghanche district had suffered significant destruction due to floods, where 49 houses were destroyed.

“Most tourists stranded in Fairy Meadows have been successfully evacuated through coordinated efforts involving Disaster Management, Rescue 1122, local administration, Tourist Police, civilians, and Pakistan Army personnel,” Faraq added.