CHILAS: At least five bodies of the tourists have been recovered from the flash flood site at Babusar Top in Gilgit Baltistan, according to media reports on Tuesday.

The deceased went missing after a flash flood occurred due to a cloud burst in the area.

Destructive flash floods in Chilas swept away 15 vehicles of the tourists, resulting in the death of 5 individuals; however, four people were rescued from the spot.

Moreover, the rescue operation is underway for the remaining tourist.

Searches for the missing are still on, according to Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq. He pointed out that rescue efforts had previously been hindered by dusk.

Authorities and locals have rescued more than 200 trapped visitors, while villagers from Thak Babusar have provided accommodation for over 100 people in their homes.

Tourists can now stay at any hotel or guest home in the city for free.

Authorities have advised tourists and travelers to avoid non-essential travel. About 8 kilometers of infrastructure have been seriously damaged in the Diamer region, and 20 locations along the Babusar Road and Silk Route are now impassable.

In the impacted areas, the Gilgit-Baltistan administration has started distributing tents and ration packs.

Landslides, flooding, and cloudbursts in the Diamer district have also brought on numerous obstructions along the Karakoram Highway. Teams have been organized to repair the damaged roadways in response to the National Highway Authority’s (NHA) chairman’s direction.

Damage:

According to police, the flash floods carried away more than 30 cars, including passenger coasters, and 10 to 15 vehicles were entirely wrecked.

Officials said landslides completely closed the Babusar Road, destroying 7-8 kilometers of road and washing away four connecting bridges.

The floods also destroyed two mosques and over 50 houses, according to reports.

Furthermore, the flood destroyed energy infrastructure and fiber optic links, resulting in significant communication outages.

Tourists from Thak and Babusar have lost contact with their families.