Two Lodhran doctors among five dead in Babusar-Thak Road flash floods; 15 tourists still missing

WEBDESK — At least five people, including two doctors from Lodhran, lost their lives after devastating flash floods swept through the Babusar-Thak Road in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan on Monday. The floods, triggered by torrential rains, wreaked havoc in the area, washing away eight vehicles and leaving over 15 tourists missing and hundreds stranded.

The deceased include Dr. Fahad Islam and Dr. Mishal Fatima Saad, the wife of Dr. Saad Islam, who owns the Shahida Islam Medical and Teaching Hospital in Lodhran, Punjab. Their son was also swept away by the floodwaters and remains unaccounted for. Dr. Saad Islam himself survived with a leg fracture and is reported to be stable and conscious.

The group of victims was part of a 22-member tourist party from Lodhran. They were colleagues of the renowned gastroenterologist and social media personality, Dr. Affan Qaiser, who leads the gastroenterology department at Shahida Islam Medical Complex, Lodhran.

Widespread devastation, communication blackout

According to Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq, the floods severely damaged the Babusar-Thak Road, destroying around 8 kilometers of the route and blocking the Karakoram Highway (KKH) and Babusar Road at over 20 locations. The disaster has caused a massive communication blackout, with fiber optic cables damaged and several areas completely cut off.

Hospitals in the region have received five bodies and one injured victim, the Chilas Regional Headquarters Hospital confirmed to HUM News English. Meanwhile, over 15 tourists remain missing as search and rescue operations continue under challenging conditions.

Army joins rescue efforts, local communities provide shelter

The Pakistan Army has been deployed to assist in rescue operations in the Thak Nala area of Chilas. Local authorities, police, and volunteers are working tirelessly to locate the missing despite the treacherous terrain and blocked roads.

Hundreds of stranded tourists have been rescued with the help of local residents who have opened their homes to provide shelter and support, Faraq added.

Lodhran mourns, JKT expresses grief

Back in Lodhran, the community is engulfed in grief, praying for the recovery of the missing and the health of the injured Dr. Saad Islam. Political leader Jahangir Khan Tareen expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy, particularly mourning the loss of Shahida Islam Medical College’s Managing Director Fahad Islam, Mrs. Saad Islam, and their son.

PMD issues further flood warnings

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of further urban flooding risks across northern Pakistan. Islamabad’s Saidpur area recorded 163mm of rain, exacerbating concerns of more floods in vulnerable regions.

Authorities have urged citizens to avoid traveling to the affected regions and to rely solely on official sources for updates and advisories as rescue operations remain underway.