Avalanche and Landslide Close Kalam and Kaghan Roads
An avalanche and a landslide have shut the Kalam and Kaghan roads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s northern valleys on Saturday, stranding tourists and residents as rain and snowfall continue across the region.
Kalam Road was closed to all traffic after an avalanche was spotted near Lal Glacier. In the Kaghan Valley, a major landslide near Paras blocked the Kaghan Highway, cutting off road access for travellers and residents.
Both closures came on the same day, as the weather spell that has gripped the north since Friday pushed deeper into the mountains. Rain fell in the lower valleys while snow continued in Naran and the upper areas.
Kalam Road shut after avalanche near Lal Glacier
Kalam Road was closed after the avalanche was spotted near Lal Glacier. Authorities restricted movement in the area and advised tourists not to move ahead until the route is completely cleared and declared safe.
The Assistant Commissioner of Kalam directed the Upper Swat Development Authority (USDA) to start removing snow and clearing the route at once, so that safe passage can be restored.
Tourists have been asked to follow the instructions and avoid travelling further until the clearance work is complete.
The USDA is the authority that looks after the Upper Swat tourist zone, which covers Madyan, Bahrain, Mankiyal, Kalam and Mahodand. It has cleared landslides on the Kalam route before, including a debris blockage on Shaho Road in July.
Kaghan Highway blocked at Paras
In the Kaghan Valley, a major landslide near Paras blocked the Kaghan Highway. The slide completely disrupted traffic, stranding many tourists and local residents. Rain fell in the lower valley, while snow continued in Naran and the upper areas.
National Highway Authority machinery had yet to reach the site even hours after the incident, delaying clearance work.
The Kaghan Valley draws large numbers of visitors in every season, and the highway is the single route in and out for the towns along it. A blockage at Paras leaves traffic on both sides with no alternative.
Kalam and Kaghan roads: a week of closures
The two closures are part of a wider spell of severe weather in the north. Heavy snowfall and rain have been disrupting roads across Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since Friday.
At Khunjerab Pass, on the Pakistan-China border, heavy snowfall stranded passengers, tourists, vehicles and cargo containers on Friday. Three containers skidded off the Karakoram Highway after the road turned slippery, and the Ghizer-Shandur Road was blocked by a landslide at Hopper Pari.
The Babusar Top road was blocked by snowfall on November 12, cutting another link between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. The province had already declared a winter emergency in eight districts as the cold set in.
The season turned early this year. Galiyat saw its first snowfall of the season in late October, and a rescue operation brought missing trekkers back safely from the Himalayas in early November after snowfall trapped them.
What travellers should do
Travellers heading for Kalam, Kaghan or Naran should check the road position with the local administration before setting out. The Assistant Commissioner of Kalam has asked tourists to stay put until the route is cleared and declared safe.
The Kaghan Highway closure shows why the check matters. With the National Highway Authority’s machinery still on its way hours after the slide, travellers who reached Paras had no way forward and no way back.
The weather is expected to stay unsettled in the upper valleys. Until the snow eases and the roads are cleared, the safest course is to wait in the towns and follow the instructions of the local administration.
Frequently asked questions
Which roads are closed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?
Kalam Road is closed after an avalanche near Lal Glacier, and the Kaghan Highway is blocked by a landslide near Paras. Both closures were reported on Saturday, November 14.
Why was Kalam Road closed?
An avalanche was spotted near Lal Glacier. Authorities closed the road to all traffic and advised tourists not to proceed until the area is cleared and declared safe.
What happened on the Kaghan Highway?
A major landslide near Paras blocked the highway, stranding tourists and residents. Rain fell in the lower valley and snow continued in Naran and the upper areas.
Who is clearing the Kalam Road?
The Assistant Commissioner of Kalam directed the Upper Swat Development Authority (USDA) to remove the snow and clear the route. The authority covers the Upper Swat tourist zone, including Kalam.
Has the Kaghan Highway been cleared?
Not yet. National Highway Authority machinery had not reached the site even hours after the landslide, delaying clearance work.
