Heavy rains cut off link with N. Areas

Published August 16, 2002

GILGIT, Aug 15: Air and road links of Northern Areas with rest of the country has been suspended due to heavy rains and flash-floods.

The Karakoram Highway (KKH) was blocked due to flash-floods at Gonar Farm in Diamer District, some 70km south of here, on Monday night that could not be restored after two days.

Hundreds of trucks from China loaded with imported goods also remained stranded at the Chilas due to KKH blockade and an equal number of transport buses and trucks that headed to Gilgit were also waiting for road clearance.

Due to cloudy weather, the PIA flights could not be operated between Gilgit and Islamabad for the last one week.

The floods also damaged water courses and bridges in the rural areas. Some villages like Nalter and Nomal are reportedly facing soil erosion and Gilgit-Nalter road was blocked for three days.