A massive rockfall struck the Chanas area of Gilgit-Baltistan early Wednesday, blocking the Karakoram Highway (KKH) and stranding thousands of people. The incident occurred near the border of Nagar and Gilgit districts, around the time of Fajr prayers. Local authorities have urged commuters and tourists to avoid the area until it is confirmed safe for travel.
Nagar Deputy Commissioner Asghar Khan stated that the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) was immediately dispatched to the site with heavy machinery. However, the rocks are extremely large and will require controlled blasting before the highway can be cleared. No casualties have been reported so far.
The rockfall caused significant disruption, cutting off road access to Hunza and Nagar for several hours. Thousands of students, patients, and tourists were stranded, with traffic backed up for kilometers on both sides of the obstruction. Some travelers were forced to cross the debris on foot or arrange alternative transportation to continue their journeys.
Authorities are working continuously to clear the debris, and Khan expressed hope that the highway would be reopened around 11 am Wednesday. The KKH, one of Pakistan’s most important routes connecting the north with other parts of the country, is prone to rockfalls and landslides due to the region’s rugged terrain and unstable geology.
This is not the first time such an incident has disrupted travel in Gilgit-Baltistan. Last July, widespread landslides blocked several key routes, including the KKH, leaving thousands of residents and foreign tourists stranded at multiple points. The ongoing vulnerability of the highway underscores the challenges of maintaining road safety in mountainous areas and the importance of prompt response and emergency planning.
Travellers are advised to monitor official updates and avoid unnecessary travel along the KKH until clearance operations are complete and authorities confirm that it is safe to pass.
