Karakoram Highway blocked as rains trigger landslides

GILGIT: Karakoram Highway (KKH), the only artery connecting Gilgit-Baltistan to the rest of the country, faced severe disruptions on Wednesday as landslides triggered by heavy rains blocked the highway at several points, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.

According to Lower Kohistan Police, landslides occurred at Khaider Nala, Nala Jejal Bazaar, and Aabshar Nala in Lower Kohistan due to heavy stormy rains, resulting in the road being closed to all types of traffic.

Passengers and transport coming from Rawalpindi are currently stopped at Bisham. Travelers going from Gilgit to Rawalpindi are advised to wait at a safe location in Upper Kohistan until the road reopens.

District Police Officer Lower Kohistan, Taimur Khan has instructed all patrolling police posts and police stations to remain on high alert. The Lower Kohistan Police said efforts were underway to provide all possible assistance to passengers and tourists stranded in Lower Kohistan due to the landslides and to relocate them to safe places.

One dead as windstorm, rain, hail hit upper KP and Islamabad

The police urged drivers to drive cautiously, avoid speeding, overloading, overtaking, and using mobile phones while driving. “Even minor negligence can lead to serious accidents. Drive carefully to stay safe and ensure others reach their destinations safely,” the police said.

Similarly, the Gilgit section of the Karakoram Highway was blocked near the Pedandas area in Jaglote. A large number of vehicles, including buses carrying hundreds of passengers—many of them women and children—were stranded due to the blockage.

Passengers caught in the standstill expressed frustration over the delays and disruptions to their travel plans. They urged authorities to start road clearance work immediately to restore traffic flow and minimise further inconvenience.

Babusar Top receives snowfall

Meanwhile, Babusar Top, a renowned tourist destination in Diamer district, experienced snowfall. Babusar Top Valley is a mountain pass located north of the 150 km-long Kaghan Valley, connecting it through Thak Nala to Chilas on the Karakoram Highway (KKH). It is the highest accessible point in Kaghan Valley reachable by car and serves as a key route linking Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Gilgit-Baltistan.