GILGIT: At least eight volunteers were killed and several others are feared trapped when a landslide struck a flood-damaged water channel in Gilgit’s Danyor Nullah. The incident occurred during repair work on the channel, as the volunteers were working to restore it. According to police, a large mass of earth collapsed, burying the workers under debris.
Hospital sources confirmed that all the fatalities were members of a local volunteer team, while three others were injured. Authorities have declared an emergency in local hospitals as the search for more survivors continues.
The incident highlights the growing risks associated with climate change, as a provincial government spokesperson pointed out that accelerated glacial melt had increased water flow in several streams. The situation has led to flooding and damage in various regions, including farmland and infrastructure.
The Shishper glacier, which recently flooded, severely impacted the Karakoram Highway (KKH), blocking part of the route towards Hunza. Traffic has been diverted via Nagar Road, and officials have warned of further rains and landslides in the region.
The increased river flow has led to significant erosion, damaging sections of the KKH, which is a crucial link between Pakistan and China. The Gilgit-Baltistan government has confirmed the destruction of a stretch of the highway and has urged swift restoration.
Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan has directed immediate efforts to restore the highway. The government has also warned of potential flooding in other regions, including Dera Ghazi Khan, parts of Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as the risk of landslides in hilly areas.
