ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Tuesday issued a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) alert, warning of continued wet weather and a heightened risk of flash floods and landslides in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to the weather department, the current wet spell is expected to continue throughout the week, with scattered rain and thunderstorms, including isolated heavy downpours, forecast in the glaciated regions of GB and KP.
The weather department advised residents, tourists, and local authorities to remain vigilant and take all necessary precautionary measures to avoid loss of life and property.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)’s National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) has also issued a landslide alert for northern regions in light of ongoing monsoon rains.
NEOC forecasts isolated rainfall across several valleys in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, including Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza, Astore, Diamer, Ghanche, Muzaffarabad, Neelum, Haveli, Bagh, and Poonch.
*لینڈ سلائیڈنگ الرٹ*
گلگت بلتستان ,گلگت، سکردو، ہنزہ، استور، دیامر، گھانچے,آزاد کشمیر مظفرآباد، نیلم، حویلی، باغ، پونچھ, بالائی خیبر پختونخوا چترال، دیر، کوہستان میں شدید بارشوں کے باعث لینڈ سلائیڈنگ کا خدشہ۔ سیاح پہاڑی علاقوں کی جانب سفر سے گریز کریں۔ pic.twitter.com/LQ3mTVElrF— NDMA PAKISTAN (@ndmapk) July 22, 2025
Heavy rainfall forecast
According to NEOC, widespread heavy rainfall is expected in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in Chitral, Dir, and Kohistan. The risk of landslides, mudslides, rockfalls, and ground subsidence remains high across mountainous zones.
All Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs), rescue services, armed forces, and humanitarian partners have been asked to ensure full preparedness in the high-risk zones.
Citizens have been urged to avoid travel to steep or unstable areas and follow official safety instructions, including downloading the NDMA’s Disaster Alert App for real-time updates.
The Met Office has also warned of urban flooding in Rawalpindi and Gujranwala on 22–23 July, with scattered to widespread rains and isolated heavy to very heavy showers expected in Islamabad and Rawalpindi during the next 24 hours.
Regarding river flows, the PMD said low to medium-level flows are likely in the Chenab and Jhelum rivers, as well as in the associated nullahs of the Ravi and Chenab systems, from 22–23 July. Continuous heavy rainfall has also led to a significant rise in reservoir levels.
Latest Level of Reservoirs
July 22, 2025#monsoon2025 #RawalDam #damoverflow #PMD@CDAthecapital @wapda_pr pic.twitter.com/HmqhQvnT39— Pak Met Department محکمہ موسمیات (@pmdgov) July 22, 2025
Flood devastation
In Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamer district, flash floods triggered by intense rain have left at least five people dead and over 15 missing, while more than 200 stranded tourists have been rescued.
According to the Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq, the rescued tourists were relocated to Chilas and accommodated in local hotels and guest houses.
Diamer Deputy Commissioner Attaullah Kakar confirmed the casualties and said rescue operations were ongoing to locate the missing tourists.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Abdul Hameed estimated that between 20 to 30 tourists from various parts of the country could still be unaccounted for.
The Pakistan Army is supporting the evacuation and relief efforts, including medical aid and food distribution via helicopter.
Authorities have declared an emergency along the Thack-Babusar Road and suspended all tourist movement between Zero Point and Babusar Top.
A government notification directed all travellers to evacuate and refrain from using the route until it is fully rehabilitated.
Six companies have been directed to dispatch excavators to assist with road clearance and possible body retrieval operations.
An emergency control room has been established and is operating 24/7, reachable at 05812-920181 and 05812-930037.
In Skardu, flash floods affected several areas including Sadpara and Kharmang. Skardu Rescue 1122 reported that three individuals were injured in Sadpara, and heavy flooding in Barge, Dhagyol, and Shagri Bala nullahs damaged homes, crops, and infrastructure.
According to Baltistan Division Police, 413 tourist vehicles were stranded in Deosai due to road blockages at ten points. All individuals were safely transported to Skardu after overnight road restoration efforts.
Countrywide, monsoon rains since June 26 have resulted in 234 deaths and 596 injuries, according to the NDMA’s website. Of these, 13 deaths occurred in the past 24 hours.
Most fatalities — 135 — were reported in Punjab, followed by 56 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 24 in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan, two in Azad Kashmir, and one in Islamabad.
