The Karakoram Highway (KKH) was shut down after a massive rockfall struck the Chanas area of Gilgit-Baltistan, stranding thousands of people, local authorities said.
Nagar Deputy Commissioner Asghar Khan said the incident took place in the early morning hours, around the time of Fajr prayers, near the border between the Nagar and Gilgit districts. He urged commuters and tourists to stay away from the area until officials confirm that the highway has been safely reopened.
According to Khan, the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) was alerted immediately and dispatched heavy machinery to the site. However, he said the rocks blocking the road are extremely large and will require controlled blasting before they can be removed.
No casualties were reported in the incident, but the blockage cut off road access to Hunza and Nagar for several hours. Thousands of students, patients, and tourists were left stranded as traffic piled up on both sides of the highway, with long lines of vehicles stretching for kilometres.
Some travellers were forced to cross the debris on foot and arrange alternative transport after reaching the other side of the obstruction.
Khan said clearance work is ongoing and expressed hope that traffic on the KKH would be restored by around 11am on Wednesday.
The Karakoram Highway is frequently affected by rockfalls and landslides due to the region’s rugged terrain and unstable geology. Just last July, widespread landslides blocked several key routes across Gilgit-Baltistan, including the KKH, leaving thousands of local residents and foreign tourists stranded at various points across the region.