Babusar Road closure extended to June 6 amid continued snowfall

CHILAS: Gilgit-Baltistan police have announced the extension in the closure of Babusar Road until June 6 due to continued snowfall and hazardous weather conditions.

According to a spokesperson for the G-B police, the seasonal highway, a key link between Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa via Babusar Pass, was initially closed from May 31 to June 2. Now the closure has been extended for all traffic as snow clearance operations continue.

G-B police said that machinery was engaged in clearing snow and debris, but persistent snowfall at Babusar Top and surrounding areas was slowing down restoration efforts.

Earlier, district authorities in Naran had also issued a travel advisory for Babusar Top, warning tourists, travellers and transport operators to exercise caution due to ongoing snowfall and dangerous road conditions.

The administration had said that traffic on parts of the route had been disrupted, with some sections operating under one-way flow, and warned that travel after 6 pm becomes “nearly impossible” due to heavy snowfall and poor visibility.

Officials had cautioned that slippery roads, falling rocks, glacial activity, brake failures and the risk of landslides posed serious threats to life and property.

They had urged travellers to avoid non-essential movement, check weather conditions before travel and follow instructions issued by local authorities and police.

Authorities had also advised passengers to use the Karakoram Highway via Dasu as an alternative route during the closure.

Babusar Pass, located at an altitude of over 4,100 metres (13,500 feet), was reopened to traffic on May 25 after its seasonal winter closure, which typically lasts from November to mid-May due to heavy snowfall and avalanche risks.

The route is a popular summer corridor for tourists travelling between Kaghan Valley, Chilas and parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, but remains highly vulnerable to sudden weather changes and landslides.