QUETTA: Balochistan’s land route with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was cut off on Saturday after a landslide on the highway connecting Zhob to Dera Ismail Khan.

According to officials, the lan­dslide occurred near Dhanasar area of D.I. Khan, leaving a large number of vehicles, including passenger coaches, trucks and cars stranded on both sides.

A senior official of Balochistan Levies told Dawn that passengers, including women and children, are stuck due to the landslide which started suddenly despite no rainfall. No loss of life has so far been reported.

The National Highway Autho­rity North General Manager Inayatullah Agha said machinery and NHA staff had reached the site and started removing the boulders.

He said traffic was expected to be restored by late at night once the highway is cleared.

In April, the Kuchlak-D.I. Khan N-50 highway connecting the two provinces, was blocked after torrential rains caused landslides in Balochistan’s Sherani district.

The torrential rains in KP’s bordering mountains and the Koh-i-Sulaiman also caused intense flooding in the border areas, leaving a large number of passenger buses and smaller vehicles stranded.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

PAKISTAN has now registered 50 polio cases this year. We all saw it coming and yet there was nothing we could do to...
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...