Chilas: Torrential rains and flash floods have caused widespread destruction across several areas of Diamer district in Gilgit-Baltistan, damaging homes, farmland, orchards and critical infrastructure, while leaving affected communities in urgent need of assistance.
According to local authorities, the floods have severely damaged residential houses, orchards, standing crops, link roads, traditional water mills and irrigation channels, disrupting daily life in multiple villages.
The Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA), Diamer, is continuing restoration work in the affected areas. However, recovery efforts are being hampered by massive deposits of flood debris and large boulders left behind by the torrents.
Officials said the link road to the Nyat Valley has been cleared of debris and reopened for traffic, restoring access to the area. The Darel-Khanbari link road has also been restored, allowing local residents to resume movement.
Despite progress in reopening roads, residents say they are facing acute shortages of food, medicines, clean drinking water and healthcare services in flood-hit communities.
Affected families have urged authorities to accelerate relief operations and provide immediate financial assistance to help them rebuild their lives.
Local residents also warned that cloudburst incidents have increased in Diamer due to the growing impacts of climate change, causing extensive damage to forests, agricultural land and rural infrastructure.
The flood victims have appealed to the federal and Gilgit-Baltistan governments, as well as relevant authorities, to implement permanent flood protection measures and comprehensive rehabilitation plans to reduce the impact of future disasters.
