Singer Quratulain Balouch is recovering and remains out of danger after surviving a rare Himalayan brown bear attack in Deosai, her team confirmed in the first official statement on her health on Sunday.
In a message shared on her Instagram, Balouch's team said doctors have assured there are no fractures and that she is "recovering rapidly." The statement also appealed to fans for prayers while requesting respect for her privacy.
The post noted that the singer requires complete rest and that all her public appearances and engagements have been postponed until her full recovery.
The attack took place on the night of September 4 near Bara Pani, where Balouch had travelled with the Comprehensive Disaster Response Services (CDRS) to participate in relief work for flood-affected communities.
According to her team, a brown bear entered the tent where she was staying and attacked her. The CDRS team intervened swiftly and managed to drive the bear away, after which she was rushed to a nearby medical centre.
Later she was shifted to Skardu Regional Hospital. Hospital staff said both her arms were injured but her condition has remained stable. In the meanwhile, the Gilgit-Baltistan government imposed a ban on overnight camping in Deosai National Park.
Government Spokesperson Faizullah Faraq said that under the new restrictions, no tourist or traveller will be permitted to camp overnight in the area. The measure, he said, is intended both to ensure visitor safety and to protect the park's fragile alpine ecosystem, which conservationists warn is under mounting pressure from increased tourism.
Known as the "Land of Giants," Deosai is one of the world's highest plateaus, stretching across 3,000 square kilometres at an altitude above 13,000 feet. The plateau, famed for its summer wildflowers, is home to rare wildlife including the endangered Himalayan brown bear, snow leopard, ibex, golden marmot, lynx, musk deer, and migratory birds.
Balouch, popularly known as QB, rose to prominence with her rendition of Woh Humsafar Tha, the title track of the hit drama Humsafar. She has since performed several Coke Studio favourites and playback songs for Bollywood films, becoming one of Pakistan's most celebrated contemporary singers.
(WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)
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