How Many Lives Were Lost in the Recent Floods in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 10 fatalities reported in floods.
- Infrastructure damage exceeds PKR 20 billion.
- Local leaders request PKR 7 billion for recovery.
- Search operations ongoing for missing individuals.
- Heavy rains expected to continue until July 31.
Islamabad, July 27 (NationPress) The devastating floods resulting from intense monsoon rains have claimed the lives of 10 individuals and left four others injured in the region of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB), according to local media reports on Sunday.
Moreover, the floods have caused damage to infrastructure estimated at over PKR 20 billion.
As the relentless monsoon rains continue to impact Pakistan, the overall death toll since the monsoon season began has tragically reached 266, as reported by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Friday.
During a press conference, local leader Haji Gulbar Khan stated that the floods have severely affected seven districts within the region, destroying roads, water channels, homes, and agricultural lands.
He highlighted that the resources available are insufficient for recovery, urging the Pakistani government for support, as reported by Pakistan-based The News International.
Gulbar Khan has requested PKR 7 billion from the federal government for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the devastated infrastructure.
In addition, multiple segments of the Fairy Meadows Road in PoGB have been obstructed due to landslides following the heavy rainfall, and aerial operations have been suspended due to poor weather conditions, according to the leading Pakistani media outlet Geo News.
As per the Chilas deputy commissioner, the NDMA has deployed teams to the affected areas, with ongoing search operations for those missing.
The Meteorological Office has predicted that rainfall is likely to persist until July 31 in Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley, and Rawalakot areas of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), as well as in the Hunza and Skardu regions of PoGB.
In the meantime, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a nationwide alert concerning widespread rain, wind, and thundershowers, cautioning against potential flash floods, urban flooding, and landslides.
Heavy rains have raised alarm over possible urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Okara, Nowshera, and Peshawar.
On Wednesday morning, heavy rains submerged low-lying areas in Lahore and various other cities across Punjab province, disrupting daily life and electricity supply in numerous neighborhoods.
Additionally, rainfall has caused disruptions to several power feeders, with water accumulation on major roads severely affecting mobility and local infrastructure.
The unrelenting rainfall has also caused significant inundation in Lahore, affecting several underpasses and streets and crippling drainage systems.