Landslide blocks Baltistan Road, stranding thousands and prompting closure

Early Thursday, a landslide in Skardu’s Roundu Valley near Shangus completely blocked the Baltistan Road, a vital 167-kilometre stretch along the Indus River that links the districts of Skardu, Kharmang, Shigar and Ghanche. The blockage stranded thousands of travelers, among them tourists, and forced the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority to suspend traffic and advise the public to avoid non-essential travel.

Debris continues to shift, and large boulders cannot be cleared by standard machinery, so the Frontier Works Organisation is sending a blasting team to dismantle them. Residents have long complained about missing safety barriers, inadequate signage and poor communications at checkpoints, arguing that the road’s 2021 reconstruction ignored these needs. Officials warned that attempting to cross the slide zone poses a high risk of further movement. The road is expected to remain closed at least through Friday.