Gilgit landslide kills 8 volunteers repairing flood-hit drain

At least eight volunteers lost their lives and three others were injured when a massive landslide struck during restoration work on the flood-affected Danyor Nullah in Gilgit in the early hours of Monday.

According to Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Faizullah Firaq, the incident occurred around 2am when a group of about 15 volunteers was repairing a water channel damaged by recent floods. Tonnes of mud and rocks suddenly collapsed, burying several people under the debris.

Rescue teams, police, and local residents rushed to the scene, pulling four people out in critical condition. The injured were shifted to hospitals, where an emergency has been declared. Medical assistance for the victims is ongoing, officials said.

The deceased have been identified as Piyar Ali, Naik Alam, Adam Ali, Azharuddin, Afaq Azhar, Azhar, and Dildar Hussain. Their bodies were handed over to families after mass funeral prayers were offered in Danyor.