Three dead as cloudburst triggers flash flood in northern Pakistan's popular Babusar Road
The Babusar Road in northern Pakistan is a popular mountain route for tourists, connecting the Kaghan Valley in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province to GB.
The NDMA said that a cloudburst at 3:30 p.m. on Monday affected an area of approximately seven to eight kilometers on Babusar Road, causing 14–15 major blockages due to landslides, debris and flash floods.
'Three dead bodies received at Regional Headquarters Chila, one injured person under treatment,' the NDMA said in a statement. 'Tourists stranded at various points were evacuated.'
The disaster management authority further said that the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Diamer visited the site. However, it said they could only travel as far as the road's middle point as the area beyond it remains inaccessible on foot due to heavy boulder deposits.
'Babusar Road is severely blocked,' the NDMA said. 'Karakorum Highway blocked at Lal Parhi and Tatta Pani [areas]. Around 10–15 vehicles are stuck in nullahs and slide areas.'
The development took place as the Pakistan Meteorological Department warned that a fresh monsoon rain spell till July 25 is likely to trigger more floods in Pakistan.
Heavy rains have killed at least 221 people and injured 591 across the country, as per the NDMA's latest situation report. Pakistan's most populous Punjab province has reported the highest number of deaths at 135, followed by 46 in KP, 22 in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan, and one each in the federal capital of Islamabad and Azad Kashmir.
The PMD warned landslides and mudslides may block roads in vulnerable areas of Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir and GB during this time period. Heavy rains, windstorms and lightning could also damage weak structures, electric poles, billboards, vehicles and solar panels.
Monsoon season brings South Asia 70 to 80 percent of its annual rainfall, arriving in early June in India and late June in Pakistan, and lasting through until September.
In 2022, record-breaking monsoon rains combined with glacial melt submerged nearly a third of Pakistan, killing more than 1,700 people and displacing over 8 million. In May, at least 32 people were killed in severe storms, including strong hailstorms.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Pakistan warns of more monsoon rains next week as death toll reaches 271
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's state media on Sunday forecast more rain and likely flooding in several parts of the country from next week, as the death toll from monsoon downpours since late June reached 271. Intense monsoon rains have battered Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Sindh, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad since June 26, causing urban floods and glacial lake outburst floods in several parts of the country. Pakistan has received above-normal rainfall this monsoon season, raising concerns of a repeat of the devastating 2022 floods that submerged a third of the country and killed 1,737 people. 'More monsoon rains with wind-thundershower have been predicted across the country from tomorrow (Monday),' state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. According to the Met Office, a westerly wave is also expected to approach on Tuesday. The state broadcaster warned heavy rains may generate flash floods in local nullahs and streams across the country, adding that torrential rains may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of major cities. 'Landslides and mudslides may cause road closures in the vulnerable hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat, and Kashmir during the forecast period,' it added. Keeping in mind the rain forecast, the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a flood warning for the Chenab and Jhelum rivers and their adjoining tributaries. The disaster management authority cautioned the public and authorities of possible low to medium-level flooding from Monday to July 31. It warned of an 'unusual rise' in water levels in both rivers, urging authorities to take preemptive measures. Monsoon rains have wreaked havoc across Pakistan, killing 271 and injuring 655 since June 26. As per the NDMA's latest situation report, Punjab has reported the highest number of deaths with 145 killed, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with 63 casualties, Sindh with 25 deaths, Balochistan with 20, the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region with eight deaths, Islamabad with eight and Azad Kashmir region reporting two deaths. In total, 1,191 houses have been damaged, and 367 livestock have perished due to rain-related incidents since June 26.
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Glacial floods alert issued for northwest Pakistan with more heavy rain forecast
PESHAWAR: Pakistan on Saturday warned of glacial flooding in the northwest with more rain forecast for the area in the coming week. Downpours are heavier in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province than the same period last year, prompting weather adviseries and alerts for flooding from glacial lake outbursts, said Anwar Shahzad, a spokesperson for the local disaster management authority. A letter from the authority sent out mid-July said 'persistent high temperatures may accelerate snow and glacier melt and subsequent weather events' in vulnerable parts of the region. Dr. Abdul Samad, from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Department, said rescue teams evacuated more than 500 holidaymakers from Naran after a cloudburst overnight Friday caused a road closure. Authorities deployed heavy machinery to remove debris and restore access. In the neighboring Gilgit-Baltistan region, the government said it had distributed hundreds of tents, thousands of food packets, and medicine to flood-affected communities. Spokesperson Faizullah Firaq said Saturday there was 'severe destruction' in some areas and damage to houses, infrastructure, crops, and businesses. Search operations were underway to find missing people on the Babusar Highway, where flooding struck nine villages. Helicopters rescued tourists stuck in the popular spot of Fairy Meadows, he added. Pakistan has received above-normal rainfall this monsoon season, raising concerns of a repeat of the devastating 2022 floods that submerged a third of the country and killed 1,737 people. Some 260 have died across Pakistan so far this season, which runs through to mid-September. Pakistan is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, but one of the lowest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Al Arabiya
Glacial floods alert issued for northwest Pakistan with more heavy rain forecast
Pakistan on Saturday warned of glacial flooding in the northwest with more rain forecast for the area in the coming week. Downpours are heavier in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province than the same period last year prompting weather advisories and alerts for flooding from glacial lake outbursts said Anwar Shahzad a spokesperson for the local disaster management authority. A letter from the authority sent out mid-July said persistent high temperatures may accelerate snow and glacier melt and subsequent weather events in vulnerable parts of the region. Dr. Abdul Samad from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Department said rescue teams evacuated more than 500 holidaymakers from Naran after a cloudburst overnight Friday caused a road closure. Authorities deployed heavy machinery to remove debris and restore access. In the neighboring Gilgit-Baltistan region the government said it had distributed hundreds of tents thousands of food packets and medicine to flood-affected communities. Spokesperson Faizullah Firaq said Saturday there was severe destruction in some areas and damage to houses infrastructure crops and businesses. Search operations were underway to find missing people on the Babusar Highway where flooding struck nine villages. Helicopters rescued tourists stuck in the popular spot of Fairy Meadows he added. Pakistan has received above-average rainfall this monsoon season raising concerns of a repeat of the devastating 2022 floods that submerged a third of the country and killed 1,737 people. Some 260 have died across Pakistan so far this season which runs through to mid-September. Pakistan is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change but one of the lowest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.
