Section of the Karakoram Highway (KKH) has been closed on Wednesday due to landslides caused by incessant rain and travellers have been advised to postpone their trips.
Tourists planning to travel between Gilgit and Rawalpindi have been requested to postpone their trips after several parts of the Karakoram Highway (KKH) were blocked due to landslides.
According to Gilgit-Baltistan Police, heavy rains triggered landslides at several locations in Upper and Lower Kohistan, blocking the key highway linking Gilgit-Baltistan with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Officials said teams from the Frontier Works organisation (FWO) will begin clearance operations once weather conditions improve. However authorities warned that immediate relief may not be possible for passengers who have become stranded in affected areas.
The police have urged the general public particularly bus and taxi stand, transport associations and travelers to temporarily avoid traveling from Gilgit-Baltistan towards Khyber Pakhtunkhwa till the road is fully restored.
Citizens have also been recommended to avoid unnecessary travel and follow updates and safety instructions that Gilgit-Baltistan Police has issued with respect to the changing situation.
Could black rain happen in Pakistan after Iran attacks?
Previously, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) putting rumours to rest of possible ‘black rain’ in Pakistan clarified that there is no possibility of such a phenomena in Pakistan.
After the recent severe bombing on oil installations in Iran, unusual pollution has been created in the environment, while in other countries of the region, concerns are also being expressed regarding possible weather effects.
According to experts, due to this situation, there is a possibility that polluted particles may reach some areas of Pakistan through western winds.
The Meteorological Department says that western winds coming from the direction of Iran will enter Pakistan in the next few days, carrying with them the polluted particles present in the atmosphere.
However, the department clarified that there is no possibility of “black rain” in Pakistan. As a precautionary measure, the Meteorological Department has instructed its regional offices that if rain occurs, its samples should be collected and sent to laboratories for analysis.
It is worth remembering that during the ongoing attacks on Iran, after Israel and USA targeted oil installations, reports of severe air pollution appeared in Tehran.
Also read: Could black rain happen in Pakistan after Iran attacks?
