PESHAWAR, Aug 11: At least nine volunteers lost their lives and three others were injured after a massive landslide struck during flood restoration work in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Danyor Nullah, located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), officials confirmed on Monday.
The tragedy occurred late Sunday night while the volunteers were engaged in repairing a water channel severely damaged by recent floods. According to police, a sudden collapse of earth and rock buried several workers under heavy debris, leaving rescue teams scrambling to save lives in the darkness.
Emergency Response
Local hospitals in Gilgit region declared an emergency as injured workers were rushed for urgent treatment. Rescue operations, supported by local residents, were launched immediately despite challenging conditions caused by ongoing rains and unstable slopes. Authorities said the unstable terrain and continued water flow in the channel were hampering recovery efforts.
Flood Havoc in Gilgit-Baltistan
Gilgit-Baltistan has been reeling from heavy monsoon rains in recent weeks, triggering flash floods, landslides, and infrastructure damage across the mountainous region. The Danyor Nullah area, in particular, has seen repeated blockages and destruction of irrigation and water supply systems, putting additional strain on local communities dependent on them for agriculture and daily needs.
Officials have warned of more landslides as soil saturation levels rise, urging residents and volunteers to exercise extreme caution when participating in restoration activities.
A Growing Disaster Threat
Environmental experts have pointed out that the frequency of such disasters in PoK’s mountainous belt has increased in recent years due to a combination of climate change, deforestation, and unplanned construction. With glaciers melting at an accelerated rate and rainfall patterns becoming more erratic, the fragile slopes of Gilgit-Baltistan are increasingly prone to sudden collapses.
The latest incident has left the local community in mourning, with many of the victims reportedly young men who had volunteered to help repair the vital water channel despite the dangers posed by unstable terrain.