Floods wreak havoc in Astore, Shigar

GILGIT: Torrential rains in the upper regions of Astore, particularly in the Kashunt and Pakora areas, have triggered massive landslides and floods, causing widespread destruction to residential properties and standing crops.

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The situation has grown increasingly dire as landslides have severely damaged local infrastructure, leaving the community in distress.

In Kashunt village, floodwaters have wrought extensive damage. Body of a five-year-old boy was retrieved from the debris, but the search continues for a 15-year-old girl who remains missing. The district administration is conducting rescue operations.

The devastating floods have also led to the closure of the Astore to Chilam road at multiple points due to heavy landslides, halting all types of traffic. Restoration work on the road is underway, but the scale of the damage is significant, and it may take some time before the route is fully operational again.

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In a statement, the Deputy Commissioner of Astore assured the public that all available resources are being utilized to manage the flood situation and aid those in need.

Former Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Speaker and retired judge, Sahib Khan, described the devastation from Kashunt to Pakora as “immeasurable.” He made an earnest appeal to philanthropists, non-governmental organizations, and government institutions to step up their efforts in providing relief and rehabilitation. “The affected people are helpless and without support. Although the Deputy Commissioner of Astore, along with the civil administration and the Pakistan Army, is actively engaged, the scale of the destruction is overwhelming. We urgently need more supplies of food, medicines, and machinery. The provincial and federal governments must expedite their response,” he emphasised.

Meanwhile, in Shigar, the Deputy Commissioner, Waliullah Falahi, has directed the Emergency Works Committee to assess the damage to roads, bridges, water supply systems, power plants, and other critical infrastructure caused by the flooding of rivers and streams. The recent surge in glacial melt, exacerbated by climate change, has led to severe flooding in the Braldo and Basha rivers, further compounding the damage.

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Significant infrastructure, including the Tastay Korfey Bridge, Pakora Bridge, and Tastun Road, have been washed away, isolating several villages. The K2 Road has also been blocked at various points due to erosion. The Basho Neaslo, Zalo, and other areas are experiencing road erosion, posing serious threats to access routes. The Gulaab Road is similarly at risk. Damage to the powerhouse facilities has resulted in power outages, and several villages’ water supply systems and channels have been swept away. Protective embankments have failed, and agricultural and non-agricultural lands, along with trees, have been eroded, causing losses amounting to millions of rupees.

In response to these extensive damages, the Deputy Commissioner of Shigar has formed a committee led by the Executive Engineer of the C&W Department. This committee, comprising heads of all relevant departments, has conducted inspections of the affected areas and submitted a comprehensive report to the concerned authorities.

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Further damage reports are being compiled and will be forwarded as they become available. The hope is that restoration schemes will be approved swiftly, allowing for the resolution of the public’s issues and the rebuilding of critical infrastructure.