Snowfall Blocks Silk Route in Battagram; Vehicles Stranded
BATTAGRAM: Heavy snowfall has completely blocked the Silk Route in Battagram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, leaving dozens of vehicles stranded and creating serious difficulties for commuters and residents.
According to the district administration, traffic on the Silk Route from Neeli Shang to Sharkol in the Chattar Plain has been suspended, while the entry of heavy vehicles has been banned as a precautionary measure amid worsening road conditions.
Officials confirmed that several vehicles skidded due to icy surfaces; however, no casualties have been reported so far. The Deputy Commissioner said that continuous and heavy snowfall has forced authorities to suspend road clearance operations, making it difficult to restore traffic flow.
Snowfall has also led to the closure of multiple link roads in the upper parts of the district. In Allai Tehsil, key roads including the Batela–Bojri road and the Rashang–Gangwal road remain blocked, further isolating remote areas.
Meanwhile, electricity supply to Battagram city has remained suspended for the past 48 hours, compounding the hardships of residents as freezing temperatures persist.
Authorities have advised travellers to avoid unnecessary movement until weather conditions improve and road clearance work can resume safely.
Earlier, the local administration imposed a ban on tourist entry into Murree following heavy snowfall, citing safety concerns. Snowfall continues in Murree, keeping the administration and relevant departments on high alert.
While snow clearance operations are underway on major routes, daily life in surrounding and outlying areas has been severely disrupted due to ongoing snowfall and extreme winter conditions.
