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Rescue teams in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) pulled six bodies from beneath thick layers of mud on Friday, a day after a powerful cloudburst triggered flash floods in the outskirts of Muzaffarabad. Officials confirmed that the deaths were part of a wider toll of nine lives lost across the region due to rain-related disasters.
The worst-hit area was Nariyah Behak, a settlement in Sarli Sacha village northwest of Muzaffarabad, where a sudden torrent from the Jhugiyan Nullah tore through four houses. While most families had already evacuated after days of heavy rain, one household remained — Muhammad Naveed, his wife, four children, and a visiting guest.
According to Raja Farrukh Qudoos, the local tehsildar overseeing the recovery operation, the guest managed to escape with injuries, but the family was buried alive. The final body, that of the couple’s eldest daughter, was recovered some distance away early Friday morning.
Widespread Losses Across AJK
Saeed Qureshi, operations director at the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), outlined the broader devastation:
- Fatalities: Nine confirmed deaths — six in Muzaffarabad, one in Jhelum Valley, one in Sudhnoti, and one in Bagh.
- Injuries: Four people reported injured.
- Property Damage: 31 homes and 23 shops completely destroyed, with dozens more partially damaged.
- Infrastructure Impact: Two schools, a mosque, water mills, bridges, vehicles, and power lines were among the losses.
Qureshi added that while most major roads were open, the Muzaffarabad–Mansehra route remained closed due to damage.
Tourists Trapped, Then Rescued in Neelum Valley
The downpour also cut off access to Ratti Galli Lake in Neelum Valley, leaving over 700 tourists and nearly 100 vehicles stranded on Thursday. The narrow mountain road, already precarious, was washed away at several points.
AJK Information Minister Pir Mazhar Saeed personally stayed at the base camp overnight to reassure tourists, announcing that meals and accommodation would remain free until evacuation was completed.
By Friday afternoon, joint efforts by Rescue 1122, tourist police, traffic police, army personnel, and the highways department ensured that nearly all visitors were moved safely to Dawarian along the main valley road.
Videos shared online showed rescuers guiding people across rushing streams on makeshift wooden planks, carrying children on their shoulders. Many tourists expressed gratitude, with one visitor remarking, “I can’t put into words how thankful we are for the way people here helped us.”
The Bigger Picture
Flash floods and landslides are a recurring danger in AJK’s mountainous terrain, where communities live close to vulnerable slopes and waterways. Officials warn that with increasingly erratic weather patterns, such disasters may become more frequent, underscoring the need for better preparedness and safer infrastructure.