Massive floods triggered by glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), cloudbursts, and torrential rain have wreaked havoc across Lower and Upper Chitral, leaving a trail of destruction and disrupting life in dozens of affected areas.
The floodwaters affected Burozgol, Gambasgol, Ghairatgol, Sheshkoh Gahuch, Sheshkoh Tangal, Karimabad, Preetgol, Reshun, Koragh, Charon, Boni, Avi, Parwak, Mastuj, and several other areas, damaging bridges, roads, homes, shops, hotels, government and private buildings, agricultural land, and other infrastructure.
Goods from several shops and dozens of vehicles were swept away by the raging floodwaters. Two people lost their lives in separate flood-related incidents. One of the victims has been identified, while a body recovered from the Chitral River remains unidentified. Several others were injured in different parts of the district.
The Chitral–Peshawar Highway, which had been closed due to flooding in Burozgol, was reopened to all types of traffic after nearly 22 hours. The restoration followed repairs to the damaged fibre-optic line, and 4G, PTCL, and other internet services have also been restored.
In the Sayedabad area of Darosh, a temporary dam formed by flood debris in Ghairatgol continues to pose a serious threat. Hotels, gas plants, shops, offices, and other buildings in the area remain submerged or are at risk of flooding. The only bridge connecting the village of Gauch in Sheshkoh was washed away by the flood. Earlier, the bridge at Tangal had also been destroyed, cutting off road access to several villages.
Flooding and landslides also severed the land link between Lower Chitral and Upper Chitral. Several connecting roads in Upper Chitral remain closed due to landslides and flood debris, disrupting transportation and access to affected communities.
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