The Karakoram Highway, a vital route connecting Gilgit-Baltistan, witnessed thousands of tourists and travelers stranded as landslides blocked the road amid plummeting temperatures and widespread power outages.
Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan grappled with heavy rain and snowfall on Tuesday, exacerbating the public’s difficulties. Landslides triggered by the inclement weather obstructed major roads, prompting relief and rescue efforts in affected areas.
At Achar Nallah in Kohistan and the Thore area, landslides impeded the Karakoram Highway due to snowfall induced by rain. Similarly, heavy snowfall in Roundu area of Skardu blocked the Baltistan Road, leaving numerous travelers bound for or arriving from Baltistan stranded. Landslides also obstructed the Ghizer-Shandur Road in the Bargho area, severing link roads in upper regions and inter-district routes.
Areas including Ghizer, Hunza, Nagar, Skardu, Shigar, Khar¬mang, Astore, and Ghanche reported snowfall ranging from three to six inches. Rescue 1122 reported a rockfall incident on Baltistan Road near Bagcha village, resulting in minor injuries to four passengers while damaging the vehicle.
Flights between Islamabad Skardu and Gilgit remained suspended on Monday. Widespread disruptions in electricity, mobile, and internet connectivity added to the challenges faced by residents.
Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Haji Gulbar Khan directed the GB Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) and administrative authorities across districts to manage the anticipated situation arising from heavy rains and snowfall.
Abbottabad city also experienced rain and snowfall, with up to three feet of snow accumulation causing road closures. Heavy machinery operated to clear Abbottabad Murree Road, where fallen trees obstructed traffic due to snowfall.
Dir Bala’s Kumrat Kalkot area reported the heaviest snowfall, while rain and snowfall persisted in various regions including Chitral, Diamir in Gilgit Baltistan, and Khyber’s Bara, Jamrud, Landi Kotal, and Tirah Valley, causing inconvenience to residents.
Tourist destinations such as Galyat, Thandyani, Shogran, Kaghan, and Naran also faced adverse weather conditions.
The Meteorological Office forecasted continued rain, wind, and thunderstorms, along with snowfall over mountains, in various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, north Balochistan, Murree, Galliyat, and upper/central Punjab for the next 24 hours.
