The Karakoram Highway (KKH) in Gilgit-Baltistan was shut down after a massive rockfall hit the Chanas area, blocking Pakistan’s most important northern travel route and leaving thousands of commuters and tourists stranded, local authorities confirmed.
The incident occurred early in the morning near the border of Nagar and Gilgit districts, around Fajr prayer time. Officials immediately issued a travel advisory, warning people to avoid the area until the Karakoram Highway is declared safe and reopened.
Heavy Boulders Block Karakoram Highway — FWO Begins Clearance Work
According to Nagar Deputy Commissioner Asghar Khan, the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) was alerted immediately and deployed heavy machinery to the site.
However, officials said the fallen rocks are extremely large and controlled blasting will be required to clear the Karakoram Highway.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported, but the rockfall caused a major travel disruption in Gilgit-Baltistan, cutting off road access to Hunza, Nagar, and the Upper GB regions.
Thousands of Tourists and Residents Stranded for Hours
The closure resulted in thousands of tourists, local commuters, students, and patients getting stranded, as long queues of vehicles stretched for kilometres on both sides of the highway.
Many travellers were forced to cross the debris on foot and arrange alternative transport after reaching the other side.
Authorities said clearance operations are ongoing, and traffic on the KKH is expected to be restored soon, depending on safety and weather conditions.
Karakoram Highway Prone to Rockfalls and Landslides
The Karakoram Highway, one of the world’s highest paved international highways and a key route for Pakistan–China travel and tourism, is frequently affected by rockfalls and landslides due to the mountainous terrain and unstable geology of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Just last year, multiple landslides blocked several major northern routes, including the KKH, leaving thousands of local residents and foreign tourists stranded across the region.
