Staff Correspondent
BOONI: Work on road widening and safety measures at the landslide-prone point on the Chitral-Mastuj Road near Kuragh is expected to begin next week, subject to the release of funds.
The district administration of Upper Chitral announced the decision following a recent incident in which a family narrowly escaped potentially fatal rockfalls.
Two days before the official inspection, a car carrying a family, including women, got stuck at the sliding point when stones and debris suddenly began rolling down the mountain and struck the vehicle.
The rockfall continued for several minutes, forcing the occupants to abandon the car and run back towards the Kuragh side to save their lives. They miraculously escaped unharmed, leaving their damaged vehicle behind.
The incident prompted the district administration to swing into action and take steps towards constructing a protective wall at the dangerous location.
The Karak point on the Chitral-Mastuj Road has remained vulnerable to frequent landslides and repeated road closures for years. Despite the persistent threat to commuters and local residents, the problem has continued without any lasting or tangible safety intervention by the government.
On November 14, 2026, Assistant Commissioner Headquarters Upper Chitral Sultan Nooruddin Ahmar visited the sliding point. He was accompanied by the Project Director (PD) NHA, representatives of the concerned contractor and NESPAK.
During the visit, the team conducted a detailed inspection of the vulnerable section of the road and examined the surrounding mountainous terrain using a drone camera to assess the extent of the landslide threat.
The officials stressed the need to construct a retaining wall along the river-facing side of the road or widen the existing road through filling to minimise the risk of landslides and improve road safety.
The Assistant Commissioner directed the NHA to accelerate work at the site and ensure that construction materials allocated for the project were not sold or diverted for purposes other than the intended development work.
Following the inspection, the Project Director NHA assured the administration that construction of the retaining wall or road widening through filling would commence next week, subject to the availability of funds.
He further stated that blasting could also be carried out, if necessary, to reduce the landslide risk and address the vulnerable sections of the mountain.
According to the Project Director, the contractor is expected to receive the required funds soon after which work on the proposed safety measures is expected to get underway.
The proposed intervention is expected to improve road safety near Kuragh and reduce the risk of further accidents and prolonged road blockages on this important route connecting different parts of Upper Chitral.
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