GILGIT (MNN); A massive rockfall blocked the Karakoram Highway in the Chanas area of Gilgit-Baltistan on Tuesday, stranding thousands of travellers and cutting off road access to Hunza and Nagar districts.
Nagar Deputy Commissioner Asghar Khan said the incident occurred in the early hours of the morning near the boundary of Nagar and Gilgit districts. He urged commuters and tourists to avoid travelling on the highway until further updates were issued.
According to the deputy commissioner, authorities immediately informed the Frontier Works Organisation, which reached the site with heavy machinery. However, he said the boulders were extremely large and would require blasting before the road could be fully cleared.
Although no casualties were reported, traffic on the highway remained suspended for around eight hours, leaving students, patients and tourists stranded. Long lines of vehicles were seen on both sides of the blocked road, while some people crossed the debris on foot and switched vehicles after reaching the other side.
Asghar Khan said clearance work was in progress and expressed hope that the Karakoram Highway would be reopened for traffic by 11am on Wednesday.
The Karakoram Highway frequently faces disruptions due to landslides and rockfalls. Earlier in July, thousands of locals and foreign tourists were stranded across Gilgit-Baltistan after landslides blocked several roads, including the KKH.
