The body of three-year-old Abdul Hadi, son of Dr. Mishaal Fatima, was recovered on Wednesday evening near Dasar in the Thak Babusar region. This tragic discovery comes three days after a deadly flash flood swept through Babusar Top.
Local residents spotted the body near a stream around 7 PM and promptly alerted authorities. Gilgit Baltistan Scouts recovered the body and transported it to Chilas Hospital. Abdul Hadi had gone missing when a sudden cloudburst triggered a flash flood that carried away a family returning from Skardu.
The tragedy also claimed the lives of Dr. Mishaal Fatima, who bravely jumped into the torrent to save the child, and her brother-in-law Fahad Islam.
The family, from Lodhran, was picnicking in the scenic region when disaster struck. The Director of Administration at Shahida Islam Medical College stated that their bodies would be transported to Lodhran by 2 PM, with funeral prayers scheduled for 5:30 PM in Adam Wahan graveyard.
Meanwhile, district officials reported that widespread flooding in the Thor Valley has damaged more than 50 houses and a WAPDA building. Two individuals remain missing, and an extensive search operation is currently underway. The flood also destroyed crucial infrastructure, including a connecting bridge, watermills, water channels, crops, and orchards.
In response to the disaster, the district administration has declared an emergency across Diamer, cancelled all leaves for doctors and paramedical staff, and mobilized all departments for rescue operations. The Thak-Babusar Road remains closed, with debris covering 8 to 10 kilometers of the route.
The Deputy Commissioner Diamer stated that road clearance efforts are being hindered by landslides and large boulders, with current weather conditions increasing the risk of further landslides. A combined search and clearance operation is in progress.
GB government spokesperson Faizullah Firaq confirmed that six bodies have been recovered so far, with search operations continuing. He added that Chief Minister GB Haji Gulbar Khan visited the affected areas, met with victims’ families, and oversaw rescue activities.
Tourists who were previously stranded on Babusar Road have been safely shifted to Chilas. As of Wednesday, the GB government confirmed that no tourists remain stuck in Gilgit-Baltistan. While the Naran and Babusar highways remain closed, the Silk Road is open from Khunjerab to Rawalpindi.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and property and directed authorities to expedite relief operations. He instructed officials to prioritize reopening the Karakoram Highway and Babusar-Chilas Road and to provide food and shelter to those affected.
In the wake of the disaster, residents of Diamer, many of whom live in flood-affected mud houses, demonstrated remarkable support for rescue operations, offering food and shelter to stranded travelers alongside police and district officials.
