Landslides Suspend Traffic on KP-Balochistan Highway
Heavy landslides triggered by torrential rains suspended traffic on the N-50 highway, connecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, at Dhana Sar and Manikhawa locations in Balochistan’s Sherani district on Sunday.
“A large part of the Balochistan-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa highway has been affected by the landslide at Dhana Sar on the National Highway (N-50) after which traffic has been suspended,” a National Highway Authority spokesperson told the Associated Press of Pakistan.
The field staff and machinery of NHA have been mobilised to remove the landslide debris from the road.
Meanwhile, NHA Chairman Captain (Retd) Muhammad Khurram Agha was in contact with NHA field officers in Balochistan-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Shahid Ehsanullah, a member of the NHA southern Balochistan, was himself supervising restoration work and expressed hope for complete opening of traffic soon.
At present, state-run news agency reported that NHA staff and machinery were “active” to remove landslide debris from road while more heavy machinery has been called from Zhob and Quetta.
NHA has opened road for light traffic while affected road would be completely restored for all types of traffic within 24 to 30 hrs.
Agha Inayatullah, General Manager Balochistan-North, has requested commissioner and deputy commissioner to stop the traffic in Zhob and Saifullah. Passengers coming from KP can use alternative route N-70, Loralai-DG Khan Highway.
NHA has appealed to passengers heading in affected direction to be aware of the weather conditions before travelling. “NHA is always ready to deal with all kinds of emergencies and is committed to provide the best road services to the nation,” it said.
Last month, three labourers were killed and buried under a landslide while quarrying stones in Jamrud tehsil of the Khyber district.
Media reports said that a group of workers was busy excavating stones in Sarkai hilly area of Sur Kamar on outskirts of Jamrud when a huge portion of soil and stones came down on them.