Khunjerab Pass Snowfall Strands Passengers, Cargo
The Khunjerab Pass snowfall stranded passengers, tourists, vehicles and cargo containers on Friday, blocking the Karakoram Highway at the Pakistan-China border. Three containers skidded off the road after it turned slippery, though their drivers were rescued.
Snow and rain continued across Gilgit-Baltistan through the day, leaving a large number of people stuck at the pass. A police official told Dawn that snowfall was continuing at Khunjerab Top, with several vehicles and dozens of containers carrying imported goods from China stranded for hours.
Khunjerab Pass snowfall: what happened on the road
The Gilgit-Baltistan police said heavy snowfall was continuing from Dhee Headquarters to Khunjerab Top, while accumulated snow had made the road hazardous for travel. Tourists and travellers were advised to avoid unnecessary journeys and to stay away from Khunjerab until weather and road conditions improved.
A Chinese container overturned after skidding on the snow-covered road. Local travellers and personnel of the Khunjerab Security Police launched a rescue operation and safely pulled the driver out of the vehicle. He remained unhurt.
Motorists were advised to avoid unnecessary travel during heavy snowfall and to contact the police helpline at 15 before setting out, to get the latest information about road conditions.
Minister among those stranded
Gilgit-Baltistan Minister for Tourism Naiknaam Karim was among the stranded passengers. In a video message, he said snowfall had also occurred on the Chinese side, but the road there had been cleared for traffic.
“However, after entering the Pakistani side, we found the road at Khunjerab Top covered with approximately four inches of snow and ice. Several vehicles, including two to three cars, have skidded due to slippery road conditions,” he said.
The minister expressed concern over the lack of facilities and machinery to clear snow on the Pakistani side. He appealed to the Frontier Works Organisation to deploy machinery immediately to prevent further accidents.
Thin air adds to the risk
Stranded passengers said the area, situated at an altitude of over 15,000 feet, posed additional difficulties because of the risk of oxygen shortage and other problems. At that height, the air holds far less oxygen than at sea level, and people stuck in cold vehicles for hours face a real health risk.
The pass is the highest paved border crossing in the world, and winter closes it for months each year. Friday’s storm arrived while the route was still open, catching travellers and cargo traffic on the road.
Ghizer-Shandur Road also blocked
The snowfall was not the only closure. The Ghizer-Shandur Road was completely blocked to all types of traffic following a landslide at Hopper Pari after heavy rain on Thursday night. The blockage cut a second route in the region on the same weekend.
Police have asked travellers to check conditions on helpline 15 before setting out, and to avoid unnecessary journeys until the roads are cleared.
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Frequently asked questions
Where did the snowfall strand travellers?
At Khunjerab Pass on the Pakistan-China border, where heavy snow blocked the Karakoram Highway. Passengers, tourists, vehicles and cargo containers were stranded for hours.
Was anyone hurt?
No injuries were reported. Three containers skidded off the road and a Chinese container overturned, but the drivers were rescued. One driver was pulled out unhurt by local travellers and Khunjerab Security Police.
How much snow fell at Khunjerab Top?
Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Minister Naiknaam Karim said the road at Khunjerab Top was covered with about four inches of snow and ice. Snowfall was continuing at the time of his video message.
Why is being stranded at Khunjerab dangerous?
The pass sits at an altitude of over 15,000 feet, where the air holds far less oxygen. Stranded passengers said the height posed extra difficulties because of the risk of oxygen shortage.
What should travellers do?
Police advised motorists to avoid unnecessary travel during heavy snowfall and to contact the police helpline at 15 before setting out for the latest information on road conditions.
