Two killed as rain, snow disrupt life across Gilgit-Baltistan

Two men lost their lives on Thursday when a landslide struck their vehicle on the Karakoram Highway in Gilgit-Baltistan, as heavy rain and snowfall wreaked havoc across the region. Arif Hussain and Kashif Ali, residents of Gulmat in Nagar district, were traveling on the highway when a rock from a landslide hit their vehicle in a landslide-prone area near the Pissan section. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, both men succumbed to their injuries.

The barrage of rain and snow has disrupted daily life across Gilgit-Baltistan, causing landslides along the Karakoram Highway and blocking several routes to remote areas. The highway, however, remains open to traffic, according to the GB police spokesperson. The public has been advised to contact the Police Helpline at 15 to get the latest updates on the highway's condition before embarking on a journey.

Meanwhile, upper areas of Gilgit-Baltistan experienced intermittent snowfall, while lower regions were hit by rain. The Babusar Pass road, a critical link to the northern areas, has been temporarily closed to all traffic due to heavy snowfall at Babusar Top. Local authorities have urged travelers to steer clear of unnecessary travel and seek alternate routes to ensure their safety.

Numerous tourists attempting to traverse the Babusar Pass road were stranded near Babusar Top on Wednesday night. Diamer police personnel swiftly responded to the situation, rescuing the stranded tourists and safely transporting them to Babusar Top. However, heavy snowfall at Khunjerab Top has made the Karakoram Highway potentially dangerous, resulting in disrupted traffic between Pakistan and China via the Khunjerab Pass.

Additionally, heavy snowfall across upper areas of Astore, Skardu, Ghanche, Shigar, Kharmang, Hunza, and Nagar districts has created difficulties for local residents, with many link roads blocked.