Following the devastating floods in Gilgit-Baltistan’s (G-B) Ghizer district, the provincial government has extended the closure of 63 schools beyond the earlier deadline of August 25, as relief and rehabilitation operations remain underway.
Government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq said the decision was taken due to the extensive damage caused by flooding, and closures may be extended further depending on conditions. A relief camp has been set up in Talidas, where the disaster management authority has provided over 150 tents for displaced families.
According to officials, more than 300 food parcels have been distributed to affected households in Talidas, alongside kitchen and hygiene kits, tarpaulins, shades, mats, water coolers, and over 2,000 bottles of drinking water. Medical teams and ambulances have also been stationed in the area to ensure timely assistance.
The artificial lake formed in Talidas after the floods is being closely monitored. However, several parts of Ghizer remain cut off for the fifth consecutive day as clearance work on the Gilgit-Shandur road continues. In Raushan village, around five kilometres from the main road were submerged by floodwaters, leaving hundreds stranded. Nearly 300 homes have been destroyed, while many in Hakis, Thangi, and Raushan villages remain underwater.
Elsewhere, the Karakoram Highway at Hassanabad Hunza has been blocked for three weeks after floodwater from the Shishper glacier washed over a stretch of the road, leaving residents isolated. Dozens of houses, farmland, and both public and private infrastructure have suffered severe damage.
A statement from the G-B government acknowledged that flood victims — particularly women, children, and the elderly — are struggling with mental trauma and psychological stress.
To address this, a meeting chaired by Additional Secretary of the Social Welfare Department, Arif Tahseen, brought together senior officials from both public and private institutions. The session focused on drafting a coordinated plan for mental health and psychological support in the disaster-hit areas.
Tahseen noted that while the floods have caused widespread physical and economic losses, the emotional and psychological scars are equally profound and require urgent attention.