Islamabad, Jul 24 (PTI) Thousands of people, including foreign tourists, found themselves stranded across various locations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's Gilgit-Baltistan region due to roadblocks caused by rain-induced landslides, a media report stated. Mobile and internet services throughout the region experienced disruptions after fibre optic cables suffered damage in several areas, according to reporting from the Dawn newspaper. Regional government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq indicated the strategic Karakoram Highway (KKH) had been obstructed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Kohistan district. Thousands of passengers, including tourists traveling to or from the region, are stuck on either side of the highway. Faraq mentioned that while the KKH has reopened within Gilgit Baltistan, restoration efforts remain ongoing in Kohistan. The Babusar Pass Road is similarly blocked at multiple points. Torrential rains prompted flash floods and landslides in a 7-8 km area around Babusar Top in the Naran Valley. Faraq assured the public that all tourists stranded along the Babusar route have been safely evacuated, with search efforts for missing individuals still in progress. The region's mobile and internet communication systems faced considerable damage, leaving most residents without service for up to six hours on Wednesday. The area's communication system depends on an optical fibre cable linking Gilgit Baltistan to Rawalpindi. The Special Communications Organisation (SCO) reported that recent flash floods in the Babusar Valley severely damaged the main optical fibre cable. Emergency alternative satellite arrangements were established, yet consumers experienced sluggish mobile and internet service. Faraq conveyed that restoration of the communication system is now underway. River erosion led to the collapse of the Hotu suspension bridge in Shigar, severing the only access route to the K2 base camp. Numerous foreign expedition members and trekkers have been left stranded, while eight villages are now isolated. Stranded tourists are expected to be airlifted free of charge on Thursday in an operation managed by Gilgit’s additional deputy commissioner. Chief Minister of Gilgit Baltistan, Haji Gulbar Khan, assured continued operations until all individuals stranded in Babusar receive rescue. He further declared the flood-affected areas of Thaki, Niyat, Khunra, and Thor in Diamer as disaster zones, announcing compensation for the families of those who perished in Babusar's floods under governmental policy. Khan demanded immediate actions to restore drinking water supplies, electricity, irrigation channels, and road communications in Thor's flood-impacted areas.
(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)