Snowfall in Kaghan: Traffic beyond Barawai disallowed

MANSEHRA: The police on Monday said that recent snowfall in the Kaghan Valley had completely blocked the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad (MNJ) Road to all sorts of traffic beyond Barawai.

“We are not allowing visitors and passenger coaches beyond Barawai for their safety, as heavy snowfall on the MNJ Road could cause fatal incidents,” Shafiullah Khan Gandapur, the district police officer, told reporters.

The MNJ Road was closed to all sorts of traffic after the 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. Even if the snow is cleared, the road remains slippery,” added the cop.

He said the Police Department had closed down three of the nine posts established in the upper parts of Kaghan Valley to ensure the safety of tourists and passengers traveling to Gilgit-Baltistan through the MNJ road.

“We have fully restricted the access of all visitors and passenger coaches, but some people on social media are giving an impression as if the MNJ Road is open to traffic,” said the police officer.

The DPO emphasised that the police could not allow anyone to risk the lives of visitors and passengers as the traffic between KP and Gilgit-Baltistan has been suspended due to the complete blockade of the MNJ Road at Babusar Top and other points in the valley. “The valley received snowfall three to four weeks earlier than usual, blocking the MNJ Road to traffic until next summer,” said the cop.