Gilgit: All 250 tourists stranded on Babusar Road have been rescued, while search operation is underway to trace missing individuals, the spokesperson for the Gilgit Baltistan government, Faizullah Firaq, told media on Wednesday.
“Both Silk Road and Babusar Road remain closed to traffic. The rescue operation on Babusar Road has been completed, while a search operation is underway to trace the missing individuals,” he said.
The spokesperson said stranded tourists have been evacuated to safety, and 250 people stranded on Babusar Road have been shifted to Chilas. Those stuck on Deosai have also been moved to a safer place.
Flash floods triggered by massive rains wreaked havoc in Diamer district of GB on Monday, leaving at least five people dead including four tourists and another 15 missing.
Scores of tourists also got stuck and several others were injured after a cloudburst struck Babusar Top, a famous tourist destination located in Diamer district.
Tourists have been strongly advised to avoid travel to GB until conditions return to normal. Naran and Kaghan are currently completely closed, while the Silk Route remains open only for small vehicles, he added.
Free accommodation for affected travellers has been arranged by local hotel owners and the government. However, the Karakoram Highway has once again been closed at two locations, leaving thousands of travellers stranded at various points, the spokesperson said.
Work is under way to restore the Silk Road up to Bisham, the GB government said adding that Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Haji Gulbar Khan is scheduled to visit the flood-affected Babusar Road area today to assess the situation on the ground.
At least 13 people were killed as rains, thunderstorms and flash floods battered parts of the country, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Tuesday, pushing the country’s death toll from devastating monsoon rains to 234. -Agencies
