At least 6 dead and 15 missing as floods strike Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Deadly floods struck Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Rawalpindi after parts of the region received 145 mm (5.7 inches) of rain in just 3.5 hours on the evening of July 21.

Flash floods claimed at least three lives after eight vehicles were swept away by floodwaters in the Gilgit-Baltistan region on July 21. According to Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Faizullah Firaq, three bodies were recovered from the debris, while four people were transported to a hospital in Chilas.

At least 15 others remain missing after the incident, while those rescued are being provided with medical assistance.

Saidpur village in Islamabad Capital Territory was the worst affected, receiving 145 mm (5.7 inches) of rainfall between 14:50 and 18:20 local time on July 21. Meanwhile, Golra recorded 46 mm (1.8 inches) of rainfall during the same period.

The flooding caused widespread damage, swept away multiple vehicles and caused walls, bridges and other structures to collapse across the affected areas.

In a separate incident in Swat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, three children died, and their mother was critically injured when their roof collapsed during heavy rains in Madyan’s Gujjar Banda area on the night of July 21.

Rescue 1122 North Region spokesperson Shafiqa Gul stated that the collapse was caused by the heavy rainfall. “Three siblings and their mother were critically injured and moved to Civil Hospital Madyan for treatment,” she said.

“The rescue team was dispatched promptly and reached the site as soon as we received the call.”

Medical personnel later confirmed that all three children had died from their injuries, while their mother remains in critical condition.

Floodwaters also blocked major routes, including the Babusar Highway, where hundreds of tourists were stranded and rescued throughout July 21. Some of the rescued individuals have taken temporary shelter with local residents due to the flooding.

Rescue 1122 confirmed that Jalkhad Road in Naran was rendered impassable due to large stones and debris brought in by the heavy downpour.

Initial reports indicate that a car is trapped in the rubble. However, no casualties or significant property damage have been reported.

The National Highways Authority (NHA) deployed heavy machinery from nearby stations to begin clearing the road and restoring traffic flow. Rescue 1122 ambulances were also sent to the site to manage potential emergencies.

In Rawalpindi, flooding caused water levels in Nullah Leh to rise sharply, prompting the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Rawalpindi to declare a rain emergency for the affected areas.

At Katarian Bridge, the water level rose to 4.3 m (14 feet), while in Gawalmandi it reached 1.8 m (6 feet). Emergency teams have been mobilized to manage the situation.

Amid the ongoing monsoon season, the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued a comprehensive flood fact sheet on July 21.

According to the PDMA, the fourth spell of monsoon rains is underway and expected to last until July 26.

The fact sheet warns of a significant rise in water levels in Punjab’s rivers starting July 25, due to anticipated heavy rains in Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, Sahiwal, and Sargodha divisions.

Water levels in the Ravi, Jhelum, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers are expected to rise, while medium-level flooding has already been reported in the Indus River.

The PDMA report states that this year’s monsoon season has already resulted in 135 deaths, 479 injuries, and damage to 156 homes across Punjab.

According to the latest water data, most rivers, and barrages across Punjab are currently at normal flow levels. The Mangla Dam is filled to 50% of its capacity, while Tarbela is at 79%.

Rishav Kothari

I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

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