25 killed as floods, landslides ravage Pakistan's northern areas

At least 25 dead, including woman and children, as torrential rain triggers flash floods and landslides across Pakistan’s northern regions on Thursday, reports AP.

In Khalthi Valley of Ghizer district, three people, including a woman, were killed when mudslides buried several homes, while three others remain missing. In Diamer's Bonar area, a brother and sister were swept away by floodwaters, and a child was injured in a landslide on Babusar Road. A cloudburst in Naseerabad Tehsil, Muzaffarabad, claimed six members of the same family as rivers overflowed in Azad Kashmir.

Additionally, a massive mudslide in Gilgit-Baltistan killed seven volunteers who were working to repair earlier flood-damaged drainage systems, underscoring the compounding effect of successive extreme weather events.

The Gilgit-Baltistan government has declared a state of emergency, urging the GB Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) and Rescue 1122 to remain on high alert. Search and relief operations continue under challenging conditions as authorities mobilize resources to aid affected communities.

AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq chaired an emergency meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), ordering the relocation of residents living along riverbanks and approving financial assistance and housing support for those whose homes have been destroyed. Emergency checkpoints are also being set up to monitor water levels and prevent further loss of life.

A recent study by the World Weather Attribution network found that rainfall between June 24 and July 23 was 10–15% heavier than normal due to human-induced warming, intensifying flood risks.