Thousands trapped as new landsliding blocks Karakoram Highway

Weather may worsen in northern areas: NHA bars travellers from using Naran-Chilas route: Stranded tourists rescued, but many still missing in Babusar: GB CM visits flood-hit areas: Chilas hotels open their doors for stranded tourists

Published: 12:05 PM, 23 Jul, 2025
Topics, Featured News, Environment
Thousands trapped as new landsliding blocks Karakoram Highway
Caption: --representational image

The Karakoram Highway has once again been blocked at several points, leaving thousands of travellers stranded, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Wednesday.

The National Highway Authority (NHA) spokesperson reported that a connecting bridge on the Babusar–Chilas section has been washed away due to landslides and heavy rain, leading to the temporary closure of N-15. This development has significantly hindered the ongoing road clearance efforts.

The NHA has advised travellers between Naran and Chilas to avoid N-15 and use the Karakoram Highway instead. Furthermore, the public has been urged to refrain from unnecessary travel to northern areas due to the worsening weather and increased risk of landslides.

On the other hand, the Gilgit-Baltistan government has successfully rescued all tourists stranded along the flood-ravaged Babusar Pass, relocating them to Chilas city, where private hotels are offering free accommodation.

Meanwhile, the search for missing individuals continues amid severe road damage and inclement weather.

According to government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq, all tourists trapped on the Babusar Highway have been safely evacuated, while rescue efforts are still underway to locate those unaccounted for.

The spokesperson confirmed that the tourists are now safe in Chilas, where hotel owners have voluntarily joined hands with the government to offer them shelter without charge.

According to spokesperson Faizullah Faraq, the restoration work is underway on the Silk Route up to Bisham.

NHA clears key GB routes

In the wake of cloudburst-triggered floods and landslides in Gilgit-Baltistan, the National Highway Authority (NHA), continued its full-scale operation to restore traffic flow along multiple sections of the Karakoram Highway (KKH), which has been severely disrupted by debris and road blockages.

According to the NHA spokesperson on Wednesday, acting swiftly on the directives of the Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, teams are working round the clock, using heavy machinery to clear blocked routes.

At Tatta Pani, where a landslide had recently disrupted traffic, the road has once again been cleared. The highway at this location had also been previously reopened just two days ago but was again blocked due to fresh landslides. The NHA teams have now re-established connectivity.

The vital stretch between “Loshi Bridge” to Naran, has been fully cleared and opened to traffic. Similarly, roads in Chilas Main Bazaar and Babusar Bazaar have been reopened, restoring access to local residents and travelers, he added.

Traffic restoration work is also actively underway at the landslide-affected “Loshi Bridge” area. Essential materials have already started arriving at the site, and the NHA has pledged to resume traffic at the earliest possible time.

Furthermore, the Babusar Top to Chilas highway has been successfully reopened, while the Jaglot–Skardu Road was also cleared by NHA teams yesterday and is now open for two-way traffic.

To maintain efficiency, all operations are being closely monitored from a control room established at the NHA Headquarters. The Chairman NHA Muhammad Sheheryar Sultan himself is supervising the entire clearance and rehabilitation process, ensuring real-time response and coordination.

The spokesperson confirmed that road restoration efforts will continue unabated until all blocked routes across the region are fully functional.

The Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, Haji Gulbar Khan, is scheduled to visit the affected region today. He will personally review the flood damage, assess the challenges faced by tourists, and issue on-the-spot directives for relief and recovery operations.

In light of the flood crisis, CM Gulbar Khan has directed all provincial ministers to remain present in their respective constituencies to oversee relief operations.

The Chief Minister has also instructed deputy commissioners to establish control rooms in flood-hit districts and ensure full support for the affected population.

CM Gulbar has further ordered the concerned departments to accelerate rescue and relief efforts and implement safety measures to save lives.

He appealed to tourists and locals to confirm the latest road and weather conditions before undertaking travel within Gilgit-Baltistan.

Expressing grief over the loss of precious lives, the Chief Minister acknowledged the severity of the disaster and reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting those affected.

Reporters: Tayyab Saif and Iqbal Salik

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