GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltis­tan received the first snowfall and rain of the winter season on Wednesday that en­­­ded a prolonged dry spell in the area and bro­ught happiness and joy among farmers, but also caused some problems for locals because it blocked roads and highway at several points.

According to officials of the local administration, the snowfall blocked Ka­­rakoram Highway, Balt­is­tan Road and connecting roads in remote and upper areas of Astore, Skardu, Shigar, Kharmang, Gha­n­che, Hunza, Nagar, Ghizer and Diamer distr­i­cts while lower areas in Gilgit and Diamer received rain.

They said that connecting roads of upper areas of the region were blocked as heavy snowfall made these roads extremely sli­p­­pery and people faced difficulties in approaching other areas. Up to six inches of snow fell in Ast­ore, Skardu and Ghanche districts.

According to Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), the Karakoram Highway has been blocked at multiple locations in Dassu area of Kohistan and work to clear the road is under way.

Thousands passengers travelling to and from Gilgit-Baltistan to other parts of areas were stranded as hundreds vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway.

The Gilgit-Diamer section of the Karakoram Highway has been opened for traffic while the snowfall has made the highway treacherous in the Gojal area near Khunjerab Pass.

The FWO personnel used heavy machinery to remove snow from the highway and cleared it for traffic at some points. The Baltistan Road, blocked by heavy boulders, has been opened for traffic.

The Pakistan Mete­oro­logical Department (PMD) has forecasted heavy win­ds, thunderstorms and in­­termittent snowfalls acr­oss Gilgit-Baltistan from February 25 to March 2.

Snow normally falls in the months of December and January in GB, but this year the area has received snowfall in the end of February.

Agriculture production of the area depends on me­­lting of snow on glaci­ers which normally get pl­­enty of snow in the months of December and January.

The local administration has cautioned travelers and tourists visiting GB areas to avoid travelling to mountain areas unnecessary as there is possibility of landslides and avalanches.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2025