KHAPLU, Gilgit-Baltistan: At least seven people were killed while six others were injured in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region when a massive landslide struck local volunteers restoring a water channel for their town, rescue and police officials confirmed on Monday.
The incident took place late Sunday night when 13 local volunteers were attempting to restore the water supply in the main water channel from Danyor nullah to Danyor town in Gilgit district. The water channel had been damaged due to the floods in the area triggered by heavy rains in July, according to Gilgit Station House Officer Imtiaz Hussain.
“During late night, the mudslide hit them,” Engineer Tahir Shah, Gilgit district’s rescue officer for Rescue 1122 emergency service, told Arab News. “Thirteen people were buried under the debris initially. Resultantly, seven people were killed and six others were injured,” he added.
Hussain said the bodies were recovered and shifted to a nearby hospital, adding that the injured were in stable condition.
Locals said the water channel was damaged last month, when torrential rains struck the region and triggered flash floods in several parts of northern territory.
“The water supply for both drinking and irrigation was disconnected on July 22 as a flood damaged the water channel,” Tanveer Abbas, a resident of Danyor town, told Arab News over the phone.
He said the flood damaged four water channels out of which two were restored temporarily.
“The third one was [being] restored when the [landslide] incident occurred, “Abbas told Arab News. “The whole village is in deep sorrow after the incident. Funeral prayers were offered and all seven have been buried.”
GB Chief Minister Hajji Gulbar Khan expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incident.
“The families of those who died in the incident will receive compensation as per the government policy,” Khan said in a statement. He also directed health officials to provide full medical facilities to the injured.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow in a statement, urging authorities to ensure the best medical treatment for the injured.
“We pay tribute to the volunteers who sacrificed their lives for the sake of humanity,” Sharif was quoted as saying by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Torrential monsoon rains have killed at least 305 people in Pakistan and injured 734 people since June 26. Deadly floods swept the popular tourist route Babusar on July 21, triggering landslides and damaging infrastructure.
GB has reported 12 deaths in total since June 26 and six injured, according to data provided by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). A dozen tourists have been reported missing in the region due to flash floods last month.
Pakistan, which produces less than 1 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases, has suffered disproportionately from extreme weather patterns over the past couple of years.
In 2022, torrential monsoon rains killed more than 1,700 people and caused damages over $30 billion to the nation.
