Glacier burst closes Kaghan-Naran road

Mansehra district administration asks tourists to avoid visit during Eid

PESHAWAR:

The Mansehra district administration announced the closure of the main Kaghan-Naran Road for all traffic on Thursday because of a glacier eruption near Kaghan that posed a threat to safety of tourists during Eidul Fitr holidays.

The district administration advised all tourists to avoid traveling to the hilly-resorts in Kaghan, Naran and the nearby areas until further notice. It also said that relevant authorities were working in the area for the safety of the tourists already there.

“The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Department, Rescue 1122, police, and Kaghan Development Authority are working on a priority basis to ensure the safety of tourists in the area,” the district administration said.

Kaghan, located around 100 kilometres from Mansehra town, is an alpine valley, covering an area of 155 kilometres. It rises from its lowest elevation of 650 metres to its highest point at the Babusar Pass around 4,170 metres.

The Kaghan valley, enveloped by the Lower Himalayan mountain range, is a highly popular tourist attraction because of its scenic beauty and landscapes. Besides the flow of the Kunhar river, the valley also features glaciers, crystal-like clear lakes and waterfalls.

Naran town is another popular tourist destination in upper Kaghan valley. Naran is Pakistan's most visited resort, as around 1.5 million people visit it every year. The town provides the gateway to Gilgit Hunza valleys in summers via Babusar Pass.

The administration issued instructions to all the relevant departments to deal with the emergency situation. In case of any emergency, tourists can contact the tourist helpline at 1422 for assistance, it added.

Because of the glacier eruption, the Mansehra district administration has also set up control rooms in Mansehra and Balakot to obtain “any kind of information in case of an emergency”.

It said that the control rooms could be contacted on phone numbers: 0997920174, 0997920110, and 0997501008. The district administration has urged all tourists to exercise caution and follow the guidelines issued by the authorities.