Baltistan Road and Karakoram Highway are closed due to landslides.

The Karakoram Highway (KKH) and Baltistan Road find themselves closed yet again, this time due to landslides provoked by heavy snowfall and rain. Announced on Wednesday, these closures exacerbate the existing challenges for residents and tourists alike, grappling with adverse weather conditions.

According to an official from the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority speaking to Dawn, while the weather in the region shows signs of improvement, the aftermath of severe weather on Monday and Tuesday has caused significant disruptions. Dawn officials reported obstructions along the KKH near the Thore area of Chilas and the Diamer Basha Dam construction site. Consequently, thousands of travelers remain stranded on both ends of the highway.

Efforts to alleviate the situation involve diverting light traffic through the old KKH route and ongoing clearance operations employing heavy machinery. Similarly, the Baltistan Road remains closed for the fourth consecutive day, with fleeting partial openings interrupted by fresh landslides near the Roundu area of Skardu, cutting off land communication for residents once more.

Despite these challenges, GBDMA Director General Safdar Khan reassures that restoration efforts are underway across affected areas, with no significant casualties or damages reported thus far. However, the GB government has issued a weather alert effective until February 27, advising against non-essential travel. Meanwhile, aerial connections between Islamabad, Skardu, and Gilgit face disruptions for the third consecutive day.

In the upper regions, people are battling cold waves, enduring power outages, and grappling with communication disruptions.