MANSEHRA: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police on Monday revealed that the recent snowfall in Kaghan Valley in Mansehra district had blocked the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road to traffic beyond Barawai.

“We’re not allowing cars and passenger coaches beyond Barawai for travellers’ safety as heavy snowfall on the MNJ Road can cause fatal incidents,” district police officer Shafiullah Khan Gandapur told Dawn.

The MNJ Road was closed to all sorts of traffic after Kaghan Valley received its first snowfall of the season last week.

“Visitors should avoid any risky adventures that could result in fatalities. The road is completely blocked in some areas, including Babusar Top, and even if the snow is cleared, the road will remain slippery,” Mr Gandapur said.

He said the police department had closed three of the nine posts in upper parts of Kaghan Valley to ensure the safety of tourists and passengers travelling to Gilgit-Baltistan through the MNJ Road.

Police stop vehicles from going beyond Barawai for travellers’ safety

“We have restricted people’s access to the MNJ Road, but some social media posts falsely claim that the MNJ Road is open to traffic,” he said.

The DPO said the police couldn’t allow anyone to risk lives as traffic between KP and Gilgit-Baltistan has been suspended due to the blocked MNJ Road at Babusar Top and other points in the valley.

“The valley recorded snowfall three to four weeks earlier than usual, blocking the MNJ Road until the next summer,” he said.

FERRY MISHAP: Six tourists narrowly escaped a potentially fatal incident when a ferry operator tried to take them on a ride across the partially frozen Saiful Muluk Lake in Kaghan Valley.

“It was a miracle that all six tourists remained unharmed, as icy water began entering the boat after it had a hole in the bottom from hitting a rock near the edge of the frozen lake,” sub-divisional wildlife officer of Saiful Muluk National Park Abdul Rasheed told Dawn.

He said the police arrested ferry operator Mohammad Alam and began legal action against him for endangering people’s lives.

Mr Rasheed said around three to four dozen ferries operated in Saiful Muluk Lake in the summer, offering tourists a chance to take a half-round tour of the lake.

“In an attempt to make extra money, the ferry operator persuaded visitors to take a ride on the half-frozen lake, but the ferry struck a rock, causing icy water to fill the boat,” he said.

The official said had the tourists ventured further into the lake, they could have faced grave danger, as the frigid water might have adversely affected their blood circulation, but they jumped out to safety near the bank.

He said ferry operations in the lake had been suspended after the valley received its first winter snowfall last week.

“This is the time for migratory birds and wild animals, including snow and common leopards, to come down to the lake and enjoy snow, so risky ferry operations can’t be allowed,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2024