Hunza:
A fresh wave of flash flooding on Wednesday forced authorities to stop the repair work at Karakoram Highway (KKH), leaving thousands of passengers, including local and foreign tourists, stranded at several points over Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).
Rescue 1122 confirmed the flood situation in Gulmit Gojal in Hunza and said the restoration work at KKH stopped after floods hit Juchar Nullah. GB government spokesman Faizullah Faraq said rehabilitation efforts were underway in the flood areas throughout the region.
“Rehabilitation work at KKH is in full swing at Gulmit Gojal. Passengers and vehicles are waiting for the road to be restored on both sides of KKH,” he said, adding that stranded people were moved through an alternative wooden route.
Faraq said the authorities had been asked to accelerate the work of Shigar, Ghizer, Hunza, Gilgit, Astore, Diamer and other affected districts. He emphasized that the deteriorating situation was linked to the climate crisis. “The rehabilitation work is facing difficulties due to rising water flow, river erosion and landslides.”
Meanwhile, the disaster, triggered by the melting of Hunza’s Shisper Glacier, continued to intensify. According to Faraq, more than 15 houses have been destroyed in Hasanabad, Hunza, due to severe riverbank and soil erosion. “Life in Hasanabad is supported,” he said.
The situation worsens after an increase in water flow flushed additional sections of KKH, which disturbed the connection. The spokesman said the highway has been partially closed in another place, adding the challenges for residents and auxiliary teams.
The intensity of both riverbank and erosion has forced dozens of families in Hasanabad to give up their homes. “Some residents have begun to run their own houses to save usable materials,” the spokesman for the Gilgit-Baltist government confirmed.
Help operations have been accelerated, with teams working to provide immediate assistance to the displaced people. “We will not rest until all affected families are rehabilitated,” promised Pharaq.
Infrastructure damage
According to the local administration in Gojal, thousands of travelers, including those on their way to and from China via Khunjerab, were firm on both sides of the closure without any alternative route.
The flood also caused major disturbances in the utility, damaged the optical fiber network and cut off mobile and internet services in parts of Hunza.
“The rising water level in the Khunjerab River damaged the electricity transfer near Sost Town, causing electricity disorder in areas,” officials said. Heavy machines have been deployed in an attempt to recover traffic along KKH.
Rescue 1122 reported that the Flash River was triggered by heavy glacial meltdown on Tuesday night. “The flash flood intensity was high. The flood damaged a bridge and flushed part of KKH,” read its statement.
The torrent destroyed large cuts of soil and infrastructure in the yellow mite and swept away “thousands of channels of earth, trees, irrigation channels and private and public infrastructure”. A popular restaurant on the roads, a government -owned tourist facilitation center and other nearby structures were also lost to the water.
“The flood destroyed thousands of ducts of forest and fruit trees, orchards, three link roads, three wooden woes, five irrigation ducts, electricity and internet bars,” the agency said.
Rescue 1122 said more than 50 people narrowly escaped tragedy during the flood. “About 60-70 people who repaired water channels escaped narrowly after a warning at the last minute from someone who discovered dust clouds driving in front of the torrent,” it reported.
