Mobile, Internet Services Down – Tourists Rescued from Babusar – Disaster Zones Declared
GILGIT:
Thousands, including foreign tourists, are stuck at multiple locations across Gilgit-Baltistan after landslides blocked the Karakoram Highway (KKH) and other major routes. Communication across the region has also collapsed due to fibre optic cable damage.
Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq confirmed that the KKH is blocked at Achar Nallah in Kohistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). While the highway has been cleared within GB, access through Kohistan is still under repair. Babusar Pass is also blocked in several areas.
According to Faraq, all tourists trapped on the Babusar route have been rescued and are now in Chilas, where local hotel owners and government authorities are providing free lodging. Search operations are still ongoing for missing persons.
Mobile & Internet Blackout
Mobile and internet services across GB were knocked out for six hours on Wednesday after fibre optic cables were damaged by flash floods in Babusar Valley. According to the Special Communications Organisation (SCO), emergency satellite alternatives were arranged, but users faced slow and patchy service. Work to fully restore the network is ongoing.
Helicopter Rescue Demanded
Deputy Speaker of the GB Assembly, Sadia Danish, called for immediate helicopter rescue operations to evacuate 40 people stranded in Manogah Nallah, Gilgit. She stressed that saving lives must come first and praised the efforts of the army, volunteers, and locals during the emergency.
Bridge Collapse Cuts Off K2 Access
Flooding also caused the Hotu suspension bridge in Shigar to collapse, cutting off the only road to the K2 base camp. Many foreign climbers and trekkers are stranded, along with residents from eight disconnected villages.
Air Evacuation Underway
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) announced that a C130 aircraft will airlift stranded people from Gilgit to Islamabad. The operation is being led by Gilgit’s additional deputy commissioner, and airlifts are scheduled for Thursday—free of charge for stranded travelers.
Disaster Zones Declared
GB Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan has declared the flood-hit areas of Thaki, Niyat, Khunra, and Thor in Diamer as disaster zones. He promised death compensation for families of those lost in the Babusar floods and ordered immediate restoration of essential services like water, electricity, and roads in Thor.
Khan also visited the affected areas to oversee relief efforts alongside senior GB officials
