Weather forces Babusar Top closure
Motorists travel on Babusar Top which saw the first snowfall of the winter. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Just a day after it was opened the popular tourist spot of Babusar Top was once again shut down in light of the unfavourable weather, the possibility of an avalanche, glacier collapse, and significant landslip risks.
While the Diamer deputy commissioner issued an order to stop traffic from Chilas the DSP Balakot also advised visitors not to travel to Babusar Top for a few days.
A notification from the office of Deputy Commissioner Fayyaz Ahmed Khan stated the eight-month closure had caused slippage in places and roads were narrow and one-way. The roads will be completely cleared and repaired in accordance with the traffic regulations, it added.
Astore Divisional Commissioner Dr Altamish Janjua along with Diamer DC Fayaz Ahmad Khan and security agencies personnel paid a joint visit to Babusar-Kaghan Road and decided to give instructions to the National Highway Authority for cleaning the road blanketed with snow.
Today, several cars drove into Gilgit-Baltistan without permission, in which a mini-van suffered an accident at Babusar Top, leaving three people injured.
Addressing the media, the Diamer DC said an official notification will be issued after clearing the road and until then travelling on Babusar Highway has been completely banned.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 9th, 2023.