Thousands stranded as several parts of northern Pakistan cut off due to massive rains, floods

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – Thousands of residents remained stranded for the fifth consecutive day on Tuesday as efforts are underway to clear several roads that have been cut off due to massive rains in northern Pakistan, an official said.

Torrential rains and floods washed away several roads and bridges in Gilgit Baltistan's Ghizer district, forcing some residents to commute by boat.

Faizullah Faraq, a Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesman, told Anadolu over the phone that the main Gilgit-Shandur road would reopen within the next 24 hours.

Efforts are underway to clear other roads and provide alternatives to the population of at least 3,000 people who have been left stranded after a connecting bridge was washed away by recent floods.

Massive monsoon rains triggered flash floods and landslides in northern Pakistan, killing over 460 people since August 15.

A portion of the Karakoram Highway, which connects Pakistan to neighboring China, has been partially closed for the past three weeks near Hunza Valley due to a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF).

According to Faraq, the road will "soon" reopen completely.