Thousands of travellers journeying to and from Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday were stuck on the Karakoram Highway (KKH) because of landslides – caused by heavy rains – blocking several points on the major thoroughfare but the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said work was under way to clear the highway and it would be opened by Wednesday (today).
In an unfortunate incident, a woman and her child lost their lives after the roof of their house caved in due to heavy rain near the Duranpur area of Peshawar.
According to rescue officials, their bodies have been shifted to a nearby hospital for medico-legal formalities.
Three days of continuous rain and snowfall have severely disrupted regular life and blocked roads, including the KKH, in the region.
National Highway Authority (NHA) Deputy Director Ghulam Abbas said the KKH was blocked at around 50 points, including parts of G-B’s Diamer, Qawai Mor, Shaitan Pari, Lotar, Hurban Nullah, Samar Nullah, Thor Nullah and Pani Baa.
He added that the NHA was using the assistance of its contractor companies to clear the KKH as several points on the highway had been blocked.
However, he was confident that it would be cleared for all kinds of vehicular traffic by Wednesday morning.
A statement issued by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) read that a clearance operation had been started in Chitral, Shangla, Dir and Kohistan to clear the blocked roads.
It continued that Ashrait village to Lowari Tunnel Road; Shishikoh Valley to Madaklasht Road; Ursoon, Garam Chashma to Gobor; and Chitral to Booni and Torkhow roads were blocked during heavy snowfall in the area.
Similarly, the main road between Dir and Chitral was blocked at Lowari Tunnel.
Besides, the statement read that link roads, including Barawal, Usherai Dara, Kohistan, Kumrat, Doag Dara, Amluknar, Hayagay and Sheringal, were blocked in Dir.
It added that the road leading to Zaid Khar in Kohistan was blocked as well.
The PDMA said various roads to Shangla Top, Yakhtangi, and Chakesar Kandaw were blocked in Shangla district because of the heavy snowfall.
It continued that joint teams of the district administration and the NHA had started a clearance operation and the roads would be opened soon.
Apart from these areas, the Peshawar-Chitral road has been closed to all kinds of vehicular traffic because of the heavy snowfall on the Dir Upper side of the highway.
According to a statement issued by the Chitral district administration, travellers, especially tourists, are advised to avoid visiting the area due to the closure of the roads.
The area has received around 26 inches of snow resulting in the closure of roads for traffic.
In a related development, three days of non-stop heavy snowfall have disrupted communication links and blocked roadways, affecting popular tourist destinations in Upper Hazara division, including Kaghan, Naran, Shogran, Nathiagali, Donga Gali and Thandiani.
During the three days, the Galyat region received over 2.5 feet of snow. Kaghan and Naran received up to four feet of snow, resulting in sub-zero temperatures.
In the Galyat region, the main Murree Road, a vital route connecting multiple destinations, has been closed due to a snow avalanche at Toheedabad.
All vehicular traffic to the Galyat region and roads connecting to Murree have been blocked.
In Balakot tehsil, the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road has been blocked at various points because of landslides and avalanches.
According to the Met Office, the upper northern districts of K-P have received heavy snowfall during the last 24 hours.
Kalam has received a maximum of 16.5 inches of snow; followed by Drosh with 12 inches, Malam Jabba with eight inches, Chitral with 7.6 inches and Dir with 2.5 inches. (With input from APP)
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