Sudden flash floods triggered by torrential rains have caused widespread destruction across Diamer district, damaging homes, agricultural land, roads, power infrastructure and construction machinery.
Hundreds of affected families are facing severe hardship as disrupted road links hamper relief operations and leave residents waiting for tents, food, clean drinking water and medical assistance.
Heavy rains and flash floods caused extensive damage in Thor Valley near Chilas, where floodwaters entered residential areas from both sides.
The residential settlement of Thunarka was badly affected, while houses, agricultural fields, standing crops, orchards and gardens were damaged or swept away.
Hundreds of kanals of agricultural land were reportedly destroyed, dealing a major blow to families dependent on farming for their livelihoods.
The main road connecting Thor Valley was submerged at several locations, bringing traffic to a complete halt.
Roads, electricity infrastructure damaged
The torrential rains and flooding also severely damaged the local electricity transmission system, leaving communities without power.
Communication roads across the affected areas were washed away or blocked, creating serious difficulties for rescue and relief teams trying to reach stranded families.
In the Niyat area of Chilas, roads connecting remote settlements were badly damaged by the floodwaters. Residents said the destruction of transport links had isolated several communities and made it difficult to deliver essential supplies.
Houses and livestock swept away in Daril
Severe flooding was also reported in Khanbari Sheen Shar Nallah and Shang Sharnala in Daril.
Local accounts said at least one residential house was destroyed, while separate reports indicated that two houses and several livestock were swept away by the powerful floodwaters.
Agricultural land, standing crops and orchards were also extensively damaged in the area. The destruction has left several families without shelter and caused significant financial losses for farmers and livestock owners.
Construction machinery washed away
Heavy machinery belonging to a road construction company was also swept away, forcing development work in the area to stop. The damaged equipment included 14 dump trucks, two water bowsers, two loaders and an excavator.
A crushing plant and an asphalt plant were also destroyed by the floodwaters. The loss of machinery is expected to further delay road construction and rehabilitation work in the affected valleys.
Karakoram Highway blocked by landslide
A landslide at Bunardas forced authorities to close the Karakoram Highway, one of the region’s most important transport routes. Long queues of vehicles formed on both sides of the blockage.
Passengers, freight vehicles and domestic and foreign tourists were stranded for hours as road-clearing operations faced difficult conditions.
The highway closure also disrupted the transportation of food, fuel and other essential goods to communities in the region.
Families await urgent relief
Hundreds of families affected by the floods have been displaced or left struggling to protect their remaining belongings. Residents have appealed for the immediate provision of tents, food supplies, clean water, medicines and emergency healthcare.
They have also demanded that the Gilgit-Baltistan government, district administration and relevant disaster-management authorities begin relief and rehabilitation work without delay.
Affected residents called for compensation for destroyed houses, agricultural land, crops, livestock and other property.
The latest disaster has once again highlighted Diamer’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather, with local communities linking increasingly frequent flash floods and landslides to the effects of climate change.
