MANSEHRA: Several houses, hotels and electrical turbines were damaged after the collapse of a glacier on the Naran-Saiful Muluk Road in the Nara area of Kaghan Valley here on Tuesday.

“No casualties are reported as residents and business owners had already moved to lower parts of Mansehra after Kaghan Valley received the first snowfall of the winter season in November last year,” resident Qaisar Khan told reporters in Balakot.

The mass of ice, detached from nearby mountains, damaged hotels, shops and houses.

A similar collapse of glacier had also caused huge financial losses to residents last year.

“Though the exact extent of damage can only be determined once the glacier is removed, initial estimates suggest that at least five houses, three hotels and multiple electrical turbines have been destroyed,” Mr Khan said.

No damage to public life reported as residents already moved out

He said that local hoteliers had installed turbines along a stream originating from the gushing waters of Saiful Muluk Lake to generate electricity, but many of them were damaged.

The resident added that Naran, the commercial hub of Kaghan Valley, remained under heavy snow.

Local MPA from the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Munir Hussain Lughmani, while addressing people in Paras, said that the government had taken up the issue of reopening the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road with the relevant departments.

“Our government aims to promote tourism in Kaghan Valley, but this can only happen if the MNJ Road, which was blocked in mid-November last year, is swiftly cleared of snow,” he said.

The traffic between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, which was suspended following the blockade of the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road after heavy snowfall last year, couldn’t be resumed as yet.

SUSPENDED: The district police officer on Tuesday suspended an assistant sub-inspector, a beat in charge, and a rider over failure to ensure the smooth flow of traffic in the College Doraha area.

“I have warned the station house Officer and suspended three other police personnel as traffic was blocked due to their absence from a specific point,” DPO Shafiullah Khan Gandapur told reporters.

He made a surprise visit to College Doraha and personally witnessed the traffic congestion caused by the absence of ASI Mohammad Nawaz, beat in charge Kamran Fida and bike rider Mohammad Khuram.

SHO of the Lari Adda police station Jan Nisar Khan was also warned to ensure discipline among the police staff under his jurisdiction.

DPO Gandapur said a special traffic plan has already been issued for the rest of the month of Ramazan and Eid days.

“Any traffic officers or wardens found guilty of negligence or absence from their assigned posts will face strict legal action,” he warned.

The DPO said security measures had been enhanced as bazaars, markets and shopping centres experience an influx of visitors ahead of Eid.

Meanwhile, the police launched a crackdown on temporary encroachments in Mansehra city and its suburbs.

A police team, including superintendent of police Shahnawaz Khan and DSP Wajid Khan Swati, removed illegal structures from Abbottabad Road, Shinkiari Road, Kashmir Road and Zafar Road to clear the right of way.

“We have removed encroachments to ensure smooth traffic flow. Those obstructing roads will face legal action under relevant laws,” SP Khan said.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2025