GILGIT(National Times)- Two young men were killed on Thursday when a landslide struck their vehicle on the Karakoram Highway, as intermittent rain and snowfall disrupted routine life across Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and blocked the Babusar Pass road and other links to remote areas.
Local police said Arif Hussain and Kashif Ali, residents of Gulmat in the Nagar district, were travelling on Karakoram Highway when a rock struck their vehicle in a landslide-prone area near the Pissan section, early on Thursday. Both men were seriously injured and later succumbed to their injuries. They were shifted to a nearby government hospital, where doctors pronounced them dead.
According to the local administration, rain caused landslides at multiple locations in the Nagar section on Wednesday and Thursday.
“Heavy rain is currently continuing in the Nagar district, leading to landslides at various locations along the Karakoram Highway. However, the highway remains open to traffic,” a GB police spokesperson said.
“The public is advised to contact the Police Helpline at 15 to check the latest status of the highway before travelling.”
Meanwhile, authorities said upper areas of GB received intermittent snowfall, while lower areas received rain.
“The Babusar Pass road has been temporarily closed to all traffic due to heavy snowfall at Babusar Top,” the police spokesperson said in a statement. “All travellers and tourists are advised to avoid unnecessary travel and to choose alternative routes.”
A large number of tourists travelling through the Babusar Pass road toward GB were stranded near the Babusar Top area on Wednesday night.
Diamer police personnel rescued the travellers stranded in the snow and brought them safely to Babusar Top, the police spokesperson said.
Tourist Police said heavy snowfall received at Khunjerab Top made the Karakoram Highway potentially dangerous. Traffic between Pakistan and China through the Khunjerab Pass remained disrupted following slippery conditions.
Snowfall also continued across the upper areas of the Astore, Skardu, Ghanche, Shigar, Kharmang, Hunza and Nagar districts, creating difficulties for local residents. Many link roads have been blocked.
