A landslide has blocked the Karakoram Highway at Patan Dak, leaving tourists and other travellers stranded amid heavy traffic congestion.
The blockage has disrupted traffic on one of Pakistan’s most important mountain roads. Moreover, it has interrupted the key land route connecting Pakistan and China.
A large number of tourists travelling towards the Pak-China border for recreation remain stranded because of the road closure.
Traffic disruption leaves hundreds of travellers stranded
According to local police officials, vehicles travelling to Gilgit-Baltistan from different parts of the country have been stopped.
As a result, many passengers remain stranded along the highway while waiting for the route to reopen.
Meanwhile, some travellers have started clearing limited space on their own. Consequently, smaller vehicles have managed to pass through parts of the blocked area.
Children, elderly passengers and cargo vehicles affected
The road closure has affected a wide range of travellers. Among those stranded are children, elderly passengers, women, and students.
At the same time, long queues of cargo trucks have formed on both sides of the Karakoram Highway. The disruption has slowed the movement of commercial transport along the route.
Road closure disrupts Pakistan-China connectivity
The Karakoram Highway serves as one of Pakistan’s most important transport corridors. Besides carrying domestic traffic, it also functions as a major trade and transport link between Pakistan and China.
The latest landslide has added to travel difficulties on the route. Consequently, both passenger movement and cargo transportation continue to face significant delays until the highway is cleared.
