Kaghan Valley experiences massive influx of visitors

MANSEHRA: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police deployed over 1,500 personnel in the Kaghan Valley for the security of tourists, as the resort experienced an unprecedented influx of visitors during Eid ul-Azha holidays.

“We have provided foolproof security and healthcare services on the special directives of Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed, given the unprecedented influx of visitors to Kaghan valley,” District Police Officer Shafiullah Khan Gandapur told reporters at the Damgalla police check-post here on Monday.He said the security plan for Kaghan Valley was executed with the heaviest deployment in the region’s history, anticipating the massive tourist turnout.

The DPO added that both IGP Zulfiqar Hameed and Deputy Inspector General of Police Hazara Range Nasir Mehmood Satti remained in constant contact with him throughout Eid and directed that comprehensive safety measures be enforced for the security of visitors.To assist visitors, Gandapur said facilitation centres were established in Naran and Damgalla — a key point between Balakot and Mansehra.

“These centres not only guided travellers about weather and traffic updates but also offered light refreshments, especially for children and women,” he saidThe DPO said that trained male and female personnel were deployed along the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad (MNJ) road to provide timely information and assistance to tourists.

Gandapur added that emergency medical camps were also set up along the MNJ Road, where doctors, paramedics, and support staff provided healthcare services to travellers.“In addition to emergency care, we provided refreshments and mobile phone charging services through roaming vans specially arranged to serve visitors during Eid,” he added.

The DPO said wardens were also deployed at key locations on the Karakoram Highway and MNJ road to ensure smooth vehicular flow toward the valley.“Thanks to Almighty Allah, no untoward incident has so far been reported during the first three days of Eid,” he said.