Traffic jams as tourists throng Kaghan valley on Eid

MANSEHRA: The traffic on Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road remained jammed for hours as a large number of tourists thronged the picturesque Kaghan valley during the Eid holidays, officials said on Wednesday.

The tourists, to escape the scorching heat in parts of the country, have rushed to the tourist resorts of Naran, Battakundi, Saiful Muluk Lake and the rest of the Kaghan valley during the Eid holidays.

Officials said that thousands of vehicles crossed Mansehra into Kaghan valley, causing traffic jams on the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road at various places from Balakot to Naran.“I have never seen such a picturesque beauty but the deteriorated road conditions are creating problems for the tourists,” Junaid Ali, a tourist from Lahore, said.

He added that he was on his way to Babusar Top along with his family but faced an embarrassing situation due to the traffic jams.“The visitors, mostly families, remained stranded in their vehicles for hours because of the traffic jams,” he said.

The road mostly remained blocked in Paras areas as the artery was in a poor condition due to the construction of the Suki Kinari Hydropower project. However, the traffic wardens and tourist police force were deployed in Kaghan valley to clear the traffic and guide visitors.

“Our machines are on standby at landslides-prone parts of the valley and have removed debris rolled down on MNJ road from the nearby mountainous range,” said Assad Shahzad, the assistant director of Kaghan valley Development Authority. Meanwhile, tourists have also thronged the picturesque parts of Siran and Konsh valleys to enjoy the soothing environment and natural beauty.