Landslides block Karakoram Highway again

GILGIT: Heavy rains triggered flash floods and mudslides in Gilgit-Baltistan on Saturday, causing multiple blockages along the Karakoram Highway (KKH) and leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

The torrential downpours, which began late Friday night, caused landslides in several areas, including Bonar Das, Tata Pani, and Lalpari. The Lalpari Bailey Bridge, which had been partially restored for light traffic on Thursday following earlier blockages, was once again closed after debris accumulation from the floods. The restoration work done earlier had temporarily cleared the highway, but heavy rains filled the ravine-like gaps, making the road impassable once again.

In response, the district administration of Diamer halted traffic near the Zero Point area, resulting in long queues of vehicles, many of them carrying thousands of passengers and tourists. The blockage has significantly disrupted travel along the vital highway, which connects Gilgit-Baltistan with the rest of the country.

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According to Deputy Commissioner Diamer Fayyaz Ahmed, heavy machinery from the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) and National Highway Authority (NHA) have been working continuously since early morning to clear the debris and restore the road. He assured that as soon as the road is restored, traffic will be allowed to pass through from the Thalichi and Chilas Zero Point areas in accordance with the Diamer traffic plan.

Authorities have advised tourists to avoid unnecessary travel to the region while restoration work is underway. Travelers are urged to remain informed about the road conditions and contact the Chilas Police Control Room for travel updates and assistance.