The situation on the Karakoram Highway (KKH) remained critical on Friday as flash floods, heavy rainfall, and landslides continued to block key sections of the strategic route, leaving thousands of passengers, tourists, transporters, and motorists stranded for more than 48 hours.
Severe Weather Triggers Widespread Disruption
According to reports, severe weather conditions triggered flash floods and landslides at several locations along the Karakoram Highway, particularly near Gohar Farm, Guno, and Mouladad Pari. These incidents caused extensive damage to road infrastructure and disrupted traffic flow between Gilgit-Baltistan and other parts of the country.
Authorities said that despite more than two days having passed since the highway was blocked, the affected sections had yet to be fully restored. As a result, long queues of vehicles have formed on both sides of the highway, while stranded travellers continue to face significant hardships.
Hardships Faced by Stranded Travellers
Passengers reported shortages of food, accommodation, and other essential facilities as they remained stuck in remote mountainous areas with limited access to basic services. Transporters carrying commercial goods have also suffered losses due to prolonged delays caused by the road closure.
Residents and travellers blamed the slow pace of restoration work for worsening the situation. They said that large volumes of debris brought down by landslides and flash floods, coupled with the limited availability of heavy machinery, had hampered efforts to reopen the road.
Affected passengers and tourists urged the federal and provincial governments, as well as the relevant authorities, to take immediate and effective emergency measures to restore the Karakoram Highway and facilitate the movement of stranded travellers.
Tourists Among Those Trapped
Thousands of tourists visiting the northern areas were among those trapped on both sides of the highway. Several tourists described the situation as extremely difficult, stating that road connectivity had been severed due to landslides at one end and floodwaters washing away sections of the highway at another.
A tourist from Lahore, speaking to local media, said travellers were facing severe difficulties as access routes on both sides had been cut off. He noted that one side of the road had been blocked by massive landslides, while floodwaters had washed away portions of the highway near the Gohar Nala area, causing extensive destruction.
More than a dozen bikers from Lahore, who had embarked on a recreational tour of the northern regions, were also among those stranded. Two of the bikers, identified as Hamza and Ramzan, said they had been stuck near Gohar Farm for more than 48 hours. “We have been waiting here for more than two days, but no significant work has yet been initiated to restore the road and allow traffic to resume,” they said, expressing frustration over the delayed response.
Continued Rainfall and Restoration Efforts
Meanwhile, fresh heavy rainfall was reported across several parts of Kohistan and adjoining areas on Friday morning, triggering additional landslides at various locations along the Karakoram Highway and further complicating restoration efforts.
According to local police officials, heavy machinery has been deployed to clear landslide debris and reopen blocked sections of the road. However, as of Friday evening, traffic remained suspended at Gohar Farm, Guno, and several other locations where landslides and flood-related damage continued to obstruct the highway.
Authorities have advised travelers to avoid unnecessary journeys to the affected areas until weather conditions improve and the highway is declared safe for traffic. Rescue and road-clearing operations are expected to continue until all blocked sections are reopened and normal traffic flow is restored.
