MANSEHRA: The police on Saturday warned the tourists against visiting Kaghan valley on Eid as the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road has yet to be cleared for traffic.
“Police personnel have already been deployed in Kaghan town and will not allow visitors to move beyond that point, as the valley remains cut off from the rest of the district due to the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road blockade,” District Police Officer Shafiullah Khan Gandapur told reporters here.
The road was blocked in November last year following the first snowfall of the season.
He said that Kaghan valley has been inaccessible since the first snowfall of winter and has remained covered in snow.
“Traffic between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and
Gilgit-Baltistan is still suspended, and the National Highway Authority (NHA) will clear the MNJ Road of snow after Eidul Fitr,” Gandapur said.
The DPO further said that police personnel would be deployed at popular tourist resorts such as Shogran and Siran valley to facilitate visitors during Eid holidays.
He also revealed that an Eid security plan has been put in place, with forces deployed outside mosques to ensure the safety of worshippers.
“Our week-long campaign against aerial firing on Chand rat is well underway, with awareness messages being delivered from mosques and through our mobile units across the district,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Kaghan Development Authority (KDA) has also made
special arrangements
for tourists visiting during Eid.
“We will deploy our staff and machinery to handle any emergency caused by rough weather, and to facilitate visitors in Shogran and up to Kaghan town,” KDA Director General Shabbir Khan told a meeting held at his office.
He said that officers and staff would remain in contact with the district administration, police, NHA, Rescue 1122, and other relevant departments throughout the Eid holidays.