Karakoram Highway Blocked at Multiple Points After Landslides

Fresh rain and snowfall continued in Gilgit-Baltistan on Wednesday, while landslides blocked the Karakoram Highway (KKH) at several locations between Diamer district and Kohistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Due to the landslides, thousands of passengers travelling between Gilgit-Baltistan and other parts of the country remained stranded at different points along the highway on Tuesday night. Among those affected were patients, elderly people and children who were unable to continue their journeys because of the road blockages.

Diamer police said landslides occurred at several locations in the districts of Diamer and Kohistan on Tuesday. The debris blocked the Karakoram Highway at multiple points from Barseen in Upper Kohistan to the Pattan area in Lower Kohistan.

According to a statement issued by Diamer Deputy Commissioner Attaur Rehman Kakar, the highway has been closed due to landslides at various locations in Upper and Lower Kohistan.

He said debris removal operations would begin once weather conditions improve, adding that the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) will carry out the clearance work.

Police said most areas of Gilgit-Baltistan experienced rainfall during the past two days, while higher altitude areas received fresh snowfall, creating difficulties for residents. Intermittent rain also triggered landslides in remote areas, disrupting road links and limiting access between communities.