More than 40 feet high and stretching 300 feet in length, seven massive glaciers blocked the Naran-Kaghan Road, completely disconnecting one of Pakistan’s most glamorous tourist destinations—Naran Valley—from the rest of the world.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the National Highway Authority (NHA) teams managed to cut through six of the glaciers after days of effort.
Now, the final glacier—standing tall at 40 feet and extending 300 feet—is currently being cut by rescue teams.
The NHA confirmed that the cutting operation is in its final stage, and the last glacier is expected to be cleared within the next two days. Once completed, access to both Naran Valley and Lake Saiful Malook will be fully restored.
The NHA stated that the rescue operation to reopen the Naran tourist spot has entered its final phase. Previously, six glaciers on the Kaghan Highway were cleared to make way.
For now, tourists are only permitted to travel up to Lambi. Full access to Naran will be granted once the final glacier is removed.
According to the district administration, tourists will be allowed to visit Naran from April 20 or 21 after security clearance and complete road opening.
Authorities have advised tourists to travel to Naran only after an official announcement regarding road and hotel reopenings. Travelling prematurely could result in unnecessary difficulties.
Earlier in March, Naran faced a harsh blow when a glacier collapsed on Lake Saiful Malook Road, damaging several homes and hotels.
At the time, the area was buried under three to four feet of snow, making vehicular access impossible and even hindering foot traffic due to overcast weather and snowfall forecasts.
The Kaghan Development Authority (KDA) reported that six houses, three hotels, and two turbines were damaged in the glacier collapse.
Reporter: Syed Noman Shah