It Began Like Any Rainy Day
Latest News: The morning was nothing unusual. That morning the clouds were low, kind of just sitting there, and the air felt heavy like before a storm. It drizzled now and then. Most folks didn’t stop what they were doing. A few looked up for a moment, then went back to it like nothing was happening. And then the rain picked up. In a short while, the ground couldn’t take it anymore. Streams swelled, slopes gave way. In floods and landslides in Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, that shift from quiet to chaos was fast. Ten lives gone before the day was over.
Ghizer, The Worst of It
Ghizer district bore the brunt of the floods and landslides in Gilgit Baltistan, leaving eight people dead and two others injured. In Diamer, a young brother and sister became trapped under the debris but were rescued alive, though clearly in shock from the ordeal. A local resident recalled how it felt as if the hillside “just let go”, first came a deep rumble, then the earth gave way. Fields were swept away in moments, and families stood frozen in shock, unable to move until the roaring sound finally faded.
Darkness and Moving People to Safety
Power in parts of Gilgit went out after trouble hit the Naltar station. Lights flickered, then out. The Deputy Commissioner said families along the Baseen river were moved to safer spots. The water was rising fast. You could see volunteers, rescue teams, even neighbours walking chest-deep, calling out to people inside their homes.
Neelum Valley, Stuck and Waiting
In Neelum Valley, just past Barian Seri, a chunk of the hillside slid down and left the road buried under rock and mud. No one could get through. Cars lined up, people stepping out, looking at the blocked path. It took hours before machinery cleared enough for them to move. Schools across AJK were closed for a couple of days. At least parents didn’t have to send children out in this weather.
Tourists at Ratti Gali
A little farther off, the Ratti Gali base camp was facing problems of its own. Around 700 tourists were stuck there, more than 300 women and children among them. The information minister went on video to say they’d get food and shelter. Some tourists posted clips, tents swaying, ground wet underfoot, people waiting for the roads to open again after floods and landslides in Gilgit Baltistan had cut them off from the rest of the region.
Bridges Lost to the Water
Kutten lost two bridges. In Lawat stream, three smaller ones went too. These weren’t just for cars, they were lifelines connecting villages to shops, hospitals, and schools. Now, with floods and landslides in Gilgit Baltistan cutting off access, getting supplies in means long walks or risky crossings.
Hoping the Rain Eases
The forecast isn’t good. Authorities want people near rivers to move now. It’s not easy to just walk away from everything, the animals, the bit of land you work on, the place you sleep. People here already know it can turn bad fast; they’ve seen the river rise and keep rising during floods and landslides in Gilgit Baltistan. Still, some wait. Living through the rain is hard enough. Figuring out how to start again after, that’s something else entirely.
