Severe land sliding triggered by continuous heavy rainfall has brought life to a standstill in Lower Kohistan, where multiple sections of the Karakoram Highway remain blocked for a second straight day.
The situation turned critical after three days of torrential rain caused massive landslides, flash floods and debris flows from Besham to Pattan. The destructive weather badly damaged the highway and stranded thousands of passengers, including women, children and sick travellers.
Authorities said land sliding occurred at dozens of points along the Karakoram Highway, burying parts of the road under rocks, mud and flood debris. Hundreds of vehicles became trapped on both sides of the route, while some vehicles were partially buried under falling debris. Fortunately, no loss of life was reported in those incidents.
The ongoing land sliding has created serious difficulties for travellers who remained stuck for hours in difficult weather conditions. In many areas, local residents stepped forward to help stranded passengers by offering shelter, food, drinking water and temporary accommodation in hujras and nearby homes.
Residents of Lower Kohistan won praise for their humanitarian response as they continued helping affected families despite the challenging conditions. Free meals and refreshments were distributed at different points along the blocked highway.
Meanwhile, teams from the Frontier Works Organisation continued round-the-clock operations to restore traffic flow on the highway. Heavy machinery has been deployed to remove rocks, mud and flood debris from the affected sections.
District administration officials and police personnel also remained present at different locations to supervise relief activities and monitor the clearance operation. Officials expressed hope that traffic on the Karakoram Highway could be restored once weather conditions improve and blocked areas are cleared.
Deputy Commissioner Tariq Mahmood, along with the District Police Officer, visited the Jijal area where flash floods and land sliding had completely blocked the road a day earlier.
During the visit, the administration directed relevant departments to speed up the restoration work. Machinery from the FWO’s 142 RMB unit was also mobilised to clear the affected route and reopen traffic as quickly as possible.
The latest wave of land sliding once again exposed the vulnerability of mountainous areas during the monsoon season, where heavy rainfall often triggers dangerous floods and road blockages, disrupting travel and daily life for thousands of people.
