GILGIT — Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) remained in the grip of severe winter conditions on Monday as residents faced acute shortages of power, firewood and gas, while three people — including a woman tourist — reportedly died from suspected LPG leakage incidents in Ghanche and Skardu.
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Police said a newly married couple was found unconscious in their home in Khawla Brah area of Ghanche district after an LPG heater allegedly leaked overnight. The pair was shifted to DHQ Hospital Khaplu, where doctors confirmed both had died. The couple had been married for only three months.
In a separate incident in Skardu, a tourist woman from Punjab’s Talagang area died while her husband was injured after being discovered unconscious in a hotel room on Sunday. Police suspected LPG suffocation caused the woman’s death, while her husband was stated to be in stable condition. Authorities dispatched the body to the couple’s native village and initiated an inquiry.
Beyond the tragedy, local communities reported facing prolonged power outages lasting up to 20 hours a day during peak winter, compounded by shortages and high prices of firewood as well as limited gas availability. Residents in upper areas of Baltistan, including Astore, Hunza, Nagar and Ghizer, recorded temperatures as low as minus 16 degrees Celsius over the weekend.
Locals said harsh conditions had brought tourism — a major source of income in GB — to a standstill, disrupting agriculture, commerce and mobility. Residents noted that frozen water made roads dangerously slippery, while overall economic activity had slowed.
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Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) rejected viral claims circulating online that predicted an “extreme cold wave” across the country between Jan 16 and 25. The PMD clarified that no record-breaking temperatures were expected and advised the public to rely on official advisories to avoid misinformation.