Road links to parts of Gilgit-Baltistan remain severed after floods and Glof damage

GILGIT: Several valleys in Gilgit-Baltistan were still without road access on Saturday as flash floods and glacial lake outburst floods continued to disrupt transport, relief work and basic services in different districts.

Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority Director General Ataur Rehman Kakar said restoration work was under way around the clock, with heavy machinery deployed to reopen blocked routes. He said the Karakoram Highway, Gilgit-Shandur Road and Baltistan Road had been reopened, while work was continuing on the Astore Valley Road, Naltar Highway and other roads leading to remote areas.

Even with some major routes restored, many residents and tourists remained stranded because access to several valleys was still cut off. In flood-hit localities, people were also dealing with interruptions to drinking water, electricity and communication services.

Kakar said this year’s situation had been aggravated by more frequent Glof incidents and faster glacier melt. He said temperatures recorded in Gilgit-Baltistan between July 18 and July 21 were unprecedented and had led to rapid glacier melting and Glof events in several places.

He also said relief supplies, including food, tents and medicines, had been distributed among affected families. According to Kakar, Baltistan Road had earlier been blocked at three points, including a major obstruction near Ansar Bridge, while increased flow in a nullah had affected movement in the Haramosh area. Later, the National Highway Authority announced that Baltistan Road had been reopened for light traffic.

“High water levels and mudflows in rivers and nullahs have created serious challenges for road restoration activities,” Kakar said.

Remote areas still isolated

Residents in Astore voiced concern over what they described as slow progress in reopening the Valley Road, saying the area had stayed cut off for three days. In Diamer, Astore, Ghizer and other affected districts, people complained of continuing disruption to electricity, water supply and the availability of essential goods.

Hisper Valley in Nagar district remained disconnected for nearly two months after repeated Glof incidents swept away large parts of its only road connection. Residents said patients and students were facing serious difficulties, while shortages of food, medicines and other necessities were becoming more severe.

A GBDMA report said a Glof on July 22 caused additional destruction on Hisper Road at two more points. It said about 300 feet of road was washed away at Apiharai and another 800 feet at Bayo Khai, halting vehicle movement completely. The authority said rock blasting had been completed and boulders were being stockpiled so repair work could begin as soon as water levels fell.

The authority also said a temporary footpath had been built along the river so local residents could move through the area. It added that Hisper Road had sustained widespread damage at several locations in successive flood events and that restoration and protective work would start when conditions allowed.

Weather warning remains in place

According to the latest GBDMA situation report, conditions were gradually improving in most districts after the recent spell of heavy rain. However, Haramosh Road, Naltar Road, Hisper Road, Astore Valley Road at Khachak and Hushe Valley Road at Rout Longba in Ghanche district were still closed.

The authority said machinery had been sent to reopen the remaining blocked roads and that relief goods were still being delivered to affected families. Internet and mobile phone services also remained down in several places after floods and landslides damaged optical fibre infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Amjad Hussain chaired a high-level meeting on relief and rehabilitation and directed authorities to start helicopter operations for rescue and aid delivery to remote areas where roads had been cut off. He also instructed officials to use all available resources to partially reopen Baltistan Road and prepare an alternative route for light vehicles within two days, while ensuring uninterrupted supply of food and other essential items to affected communities.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast rain, thunderstorms and isolated heavy falls until July 28, adding to concerns about more flooding and landslides in the region.