Babusar Top Cloudburst Kills 5, Several Still Missing
A devastating cloudburst-triggered flash flood struck the popular Babusar Top region along the Babusar Pass in Gilgit-Baltistan on July 21, 2025, claiming at least 5 tourists and leaving 15–30 people missing, including women and children. Sudden torrents of rain and debris swept through the area, burying vehicles, blocking roads, and destroying infrastructure over a 7–8 km stretch.
A devastating cloudburst-triggered flash flood struck the popular Babusar Top region along the Babusar Pass in Gilgit-Baltistan on July 21, 2025, claiming at least 5 tourists and leaving 15–30 people missing, including women and children. Sudden torrents of rain and debris swept through the area, burying vehicles, blocking roads, and destroying infrastructure over a 7–8 km stretch. Rescue operations by the Pakistan Army, NDMA, and local volunteers continue, while residents open their homes and hotels to stranded tourists. Authorities have issued travel alerts and mobilized heavy machinery to clear the Karakoram Highway and Babusar Road.
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Fatalities: At least 5 tourists confirmed dead, per GB government and ARY News
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Cloudburst details: Hit around 3:30 pm, ripped through 7–8 km of terrain, causing 14–15 blockages
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Vehicle damage: Multiple tourist vehicles—coasters, buses—swept away; some buried in debris
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Road closures: Babusar Road and parts of Karakoram Highway severely blocked
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Rescue efforts: Pakistan Army, local GB Scouts, NDMA, district administration, and volunteers executing ground and air evacuation
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Shelter provided: Hotels in Chilas and locals in Thak offering refuge and relief to over 200 tourists
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Weather risk: Fresh PDMA/PMD rainfall alerts continued through July 25, raising concerns of further flash floods
On July 21, 2025, a sudden and forceful cloudburst occurred near Babusar Top—an elevated stretch (4,173 m) on the Babusar Pass connecting Kaghan Valley to Gilgit-Baltistan. The deluge struck the Thak area, unleashing flash floods and landslides that swept away at least 8 tourist vehicles, including small coaches and jeeps
The flood zone extended approximately 7–8 km, leaving 14–15 landslide blockages along the road. At least three bodies recovered initially, working as the vanguard of the total, five confirmed fatalities.
Victims include domestic tourists from Punjab and other regions; four of the bodies recovered have been linked to Lodhran and other districts
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Pakistan Army & GB Scouts deployed to assist NDMA teams in conducting rescue operations, including helicopter evacuations. Ground teams used ambulances and temporary stretchers
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Residents in Thak and surrounding villages housed over 100 tourists; hotels in Chilas opened their doors freely to displaced visitors
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Heavy machinery from NHA and district authorities engaged in clearing debris and restoring the Babusar Road and Karakoram Highway
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District leadership (Deputy Commissioner, SSP) personally assessed the situation; search operations are ongoing despite nighttime limitations
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PDMA & PMD alerts advise against non-essential travel along mountain passes, especially Babusar Road and areas of Murree, Galliyat, and Kashmir
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Tourist groups urged to coordinate with district officials and avoid camping in vulnerable locations.
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Emergency helpline numbers released by GB authorities for stranded tourists.
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Local guides and tour operators are instructed to re-route trips and refer travelers to safer routes.
The deadly cloudburst at Babusar Top is a sobering reminder of the catastrophic force of mountain flash floods in Pakistan’s northern terrains. With at least 5 tourists dead, dozens missing, and major infrastructure blocked, the urgency of resilient flood management, advanced early warnings, and safe tourism planning has never been clearer.
