A powerful cloudburst triggered flash floods in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamer district on Saturday, causing widespread destruction in Thore Valley, while rapidly melting glaciers continued to raise water levels in rivers and streams across the region.
According to local authorities, the flash floods damaged several homes, hundreds of acres of farmland, orchards, trees, and public and private infrastructure. Link roads and communication bridges were washed away, cutting off access to multiple villages and leaving dozens of families homeless. Electricity and water supply systems were also disrupted.
Floodwaters swept away roadside vehicles, destroyed standing crops, and inundated the Wapda Colony established for workers on the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project, as well as nearby villages, causing significant losses.
Assistant Director General of the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA), Imtiaz Ahmed, said rescue and relief operations were launched immediately. Food, tents, and other essential supplies are being distributed among affected families, while authorities have reopened the valley’s main road and begun assessing the damage.
Officials said efforts are underway to restore road access and provide immediate assistance to flood-hit communities. Meanwhile, residents have appealed for urgent humanitarian support, including food, shelter, medical aid, and other essential supplies.
Separately, an ongoing heatwave has accelerated glacier melting across Gilgit-Baltistan, increasing the risk of flash floods and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Rising water levels have damaged roads, farmland, and infrastructure in several downstream areas.
Flooding in Sadpara Nallah blocked the Deosai Road, leaving several tourist vehicles stranded, while water erosion cut off the link road to the Badswat area in Ghizer district. Rising water levels in Hopper Nallah also damaged crops and posed a threat to roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure.
