Gilgit, August 8, 2025
Web Desk
A powerful river erosion in upper Hunza has swept away a significant portion of the Karakoram Highway near Morkhun, severing the vital land connection between Pakistan and China.
Officials say the disaster was triggered by an intensified glacial melt due to soaring summer temperatures in Gilgit-Baltistan, which has caused water levels in the region’s rivers to surge and created flood-like conditions in several areas.
According to provincial government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq, the rising water in the Hunza River led to severe bank erosion, ultimately washing away part of the highway. “The Karakoram Highway is now closed at Morkhun,” he confirmed.
Gilgit-Baltistan’s Chief Minister has ordered urgent restoration work, and relevant teams have already been dispatched to the affected site.
Meanwhile, rescue operations are underway in Skardu’s Zhoq Kachura area, where a tourist boat capsized earlier this week, leaving several people missing.
Faraq further stated that boating on local lakes remains banned under Section 144 due to heightened water flow. “Despite the ban, some operators continue to take tourists out on the water, and we’re taking action against them,” he added.
