MANSEHRA/ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of tourists, including women and children, were trapped in the Naran Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) after a severe snowstorm isolated the region from the rest of the country on Sunday.
Local residents and police officials reported that the Kaghan Highway was closed from Balakot to Naran, and from Naran further up to Jalkhad, Lake Saiful Muluk, and Babusar.
This year’s snowfall began earlier than usual, starting on Saturday and continuing intermittently through Sunday.
The stretch from Naran to Babusar Top received nearly four feet of snow, blocking all main routes.
More than 1,200 tourists from various parts of Pakistan, including women and children, were left stranded, facing severe difficulties as their food and supplies began to run out amid continuous snowfall and rain, local media reported.
Taking advantage of the situation, several hotel and restaurant owners allegedly increased rates for food and lodging.
However, some hoteliers claimed they were providing free accommodation to the affected tourists.
The latest snow spell began on Saturday afternoon, trapping multiple vehicles along the main routes.
Stranded visitors expressed frustration over the absence of local administration and the lack of snow-clearing operations.
Many said they were running out of food and warm clothing in freezing conditions.
According to the Assistant Commissioner of Balakot, the National Highway Authority (NHA) has deployed heavy machinery and personnel to reopen nearly 85 kilometers of the blocked section along the 220-kilometer-long Kaghan Highway.
Troops from the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) managed to clear the route from Bhatta Kunddi to Naran and began removing snow within the valley using bulldozers.
They also rescued several groups of tourists stranded in Bharwai and safely escorted their convoys to Naran.
Meanwhile, a government spokesperson said that federal agencies had reopened the Naran-Abbottabad Road to traffic.
Helicopters were also made available to the K-P government for rescue operations in Naran and Mansehra.
However, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was unable to begin evacuations due to poor weather conditions.
The spokesperson added that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was personally monitoring the situation and had instructed additional support, including more helicopters if needed.
The NDMA has already arranged four helicopters to assist with airlifting the stranded tourists.
“The Prime Minister has directed the NDMA to work closely with the provincial authorities to ensure the safe evacuation of all stranded tourists.
Following his orders, the Interior Secretary has contacted the K-P Chief Secretary and offered full federal assistance,” the spokesperson said.
Cold weather spread across much of the country on Sunday morning, as Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, and several other cities in Punjab and K-P experienced rainfall overnight.
The northern mountain regions of Gilgit and Chitral also received heavy snowfall, causing a significant drop in temperature.
Light rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, fell across Lahore and nearby areas on Saturday night, continuing into Sunday morning.
According to the Meteorological Department, Multan recorded 3.5 millimeters of rain, with temperatures dropping from 32°C to a brisk 19°C.
Peshawar and other areas of K-P have also been experiencing light to heavy rainfall for several hours.
The Met Office forecasted that intermittent rain and snowfall would persist throughout the day, marking the arrival of the winter season and bringing cooler, more pleasant weather conditions.
