Islamabad: Forty-seven people were killed and dozens more injured by flash floods in the mountainous Gilgit-Baltistan region in northern Pakistan.
Gilgit-Baltistan, earlier known as the Northern Areas, has been hit by floods and landslides following heavy monsoon rains over the past few days.
More than 60 people died earlier in rain-related incidents, taking the death toll in the region to over 100.
Flash floods hit the remote Gase Bala village in Diamer district, about 120 km from Gilgit, last night. Police officials said 33 bodies had been recovered from the flood waters and a search was underway for the other.
The injured were evacuated to hospitals in Chilas, Gilgit and Islamabad by helicopters.
The floods also wreaked havoc in Gase Pine village though there were no reports of casualties so far. The floods were triggered by landslides in Diamer district.
Huge boulders knocked loose by heavy showers and the flash floods swept away everything that stood in their path, local residents said.
Many of the dead and injured were women and children. Gase Bala was earlier cut off by flash floods that destroyed roads, orchards, houses, bridges and livestock.
Rescue and relief efforts have been mounted by local residents.
The Statesman newspaper reported that about 150 people were missing following last night`s flash floods and landslides though there was no official word in this regard.
The unprecedented floods in Pakistan have killed nearly 1,700 people and affected over 14 million.
The UN yesterday warned that there could be a second wave of deaths if aid is not speedily provided to victims across the country.
PTI
