Thu Jul 24 06:03:09 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text, followed by a news article written from an Indian perspective:

**Summary:**

Heavy monsoon rains have triggered severe landslides and flash floods in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s Gilgit-Baltistan region and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, leaving thousands of people, including foreign tourists, stranded. The Karakoram Highway and Babusar Pass Road are blocked. Mobile and internet services are disrupted due to damaged fibre optic cables. A bridge collapse has cut off access to the K2 base camp. Rescue operations are underway, including airlifts for stranded tourists, and affected areas have been declared disaster zones. Compensation is being offered to the families of the deceased.

**News Article:**

**Monsoon Fury Strands Thousands in PoK; Communication Network Crippled**

**Islamabad/New Delhi, July 24, 2025:** Torrential monsoon rains have unleashed chaos in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)’s Gilgit-Baltistan region and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, triggering devastating landslides and flash floods. Thousands, including a significant number of foreign tourists, are stranded as key transportation arteries like the Karakoram Highway (KKH) and Babusar Pass Road remain blocked.

The situation is further exacerbated by widespread disruption to mobile and internet services. Damage to vital fibre optic cables has crippled communication networks across the region, hindering rescue efforts and isolating residents.

“The impact of this monsoon season is particularly concerning, given its proximity to our own borders,” stated a source within the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We are closely monitoring the situation, especially regarding the safety and well-being of Indian nationals who may be in the affected areas.”

The collapse of the Hotu suspension bridge in Shigar has severed access to the K2 base camp, leaving foreign expedition members and trekkers marooned. Authorities in Gilgit-Baltistan have initiated airlift operations to evacuate stranded tourists.

Gilgit Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan has declared several flood-affected areas as disaster zones and announced compensation for the families of the deceased. Efforts are underway to restore essential services like drinking water, electricity, and road communication.

The disruption to the KKH is particularly significant, as it represents a crucial trade and transit route. The Indian government is assessing the potential impact of these disruptions on regional trade and connectivity. The events also highlight the vulnerability of infrastructure in the region to extreme weather events, a concern that resonates with India’s own challenges in mountainous territories.

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