Karakoram Highway Closed Due to Heavy Rains and Landslides
The Interior Department Gilgit-Baltistan has stated that the Karakoram highway is closed to all traffic from Raikot to Gonar Farm due to heavy rains and landslides.
According to British Broadcasting Company (BBC) Urdu, rains in Gilgit-Baltistan from July 28 have severely affected various places in the region.
The Meteorological Department states that more rain is expected again in some areas which has led to instructions to tourists and locals to take precautions.
Tourists who have been making a tourism programs for Gilgit-Baltistan during rainy days have been instructed to set up their program by first viewing the forecasts issued by the Meteorological Department to avoid problems.
According to the Meteorological Department, the areas expected to receive additional rainfall include Rawalakot, Muzaffarabad, Neelam Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan in Kashmir, as well as Hunza Valley, Dir, Chitral, Abbottabad, Naran, Kagan, Murree, and Galiyat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
According to Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesman Imtiaz Ali Taj, several districts and rivers in the region have flooded due to monsoon rains in the past three days.
Districts of Ghazar, Nagar, Diamar, Ghanche and Astor have had it the worst where roads, lands, bridges and water supply channels have been damaged due to floods and landslides. Babusar Road, and Gilgit Shandur road were also hit by floods at Ghazar district.
Gilgit Skardu Road also suffered erosion due to high flow of water in the Indus river. Ashkoman Valley Road cut off at Gashgash due to floods in the Ashkoman River.
Drains and a bridge at Chorbat in Ghanche district were also flooded. Valley Roads and two bridges of Nagar district were washed away in the flood water. There were reports of flood damage in Khanar and Boner in the Diamar district.
According to Imtiaz Ali Taj, Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan Khalid Khurshid had already alerted the administration, disaster management and all other concerned agencies. Keeping in view the weather department’s forecast of rains, the government was able to give Gilgit-Baltistan disaster response.
At present, all other highways and valley roads except Karakoram Highway and Ashkoman Road have been restored. Necessary missionaries and staff were already deployed for the restoration of the Karakoram Highway thanks o which restoration work has already started.
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