Babusar Highway closed after snowfall at Babusar Top; Naran road also shut

The Babusar Highway has been closed to traffic after heavy snowfall at Babusar Top, police said on Wednesday, 14 October. The Babusar-Naran road is also shut because of subzero temperatures and snow that is still falling at the pass, ProPakistani reported.

The closure comes early in the season. The Babusar route is the shorter summer link between the Kaghan valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Chilas in Gilgit-Baltistan, and many tourists use it to reach Naran, Lulusar and the Karakoram Highway.

Where the weather has turned

• Babusar Top, Nanga Parbat and Bhutogah Top have had snow on and off.
• Rain in Chilas and the surrounding area has pushed temperatures down further.
• Temperatures across Diamer district have dropped below freezing, and a cold wave has spread over the district.

No reopening time has been announced, and the police did not give a temperature reading or a figure for the snow.

Advice for travellers

The district administration and the departments concerned have asked people to take care in areas with snow and cold weather, and to check traffic conditions and road-clearance updates before leaving.

If you had planned to cross Babusar this week:

1. Check with the local police or district administration before you set off; do not rely on last week's road reports.
2. Carry warm clothing, water, food and a full tank, since queues can form on both sides of a closed pass.
3. Plan your fuel. Our fuel cost calculator works out a trip's cost from the distance and your car's average, and the latest pump price is on the petrol price page.
4. Keep a day spare in your plan in case the road stays closed.

Why it matters

Northern routes draw heavy traffic in October as families travel for the autumn colours before winter. An early closure leaves tourists and local commuters with longer journeys until the pass is cleared. We will update this page when the authorities reopen the road.