Key Points
- NDMA issues high-level avalanche alert for northern Pakistan through January 29.
- Moderate westerly system brings heavy snow to G-B, KP, and AJ&K.
- Fresh snow and extreme cold could create unstable, deadly mountain slopes.
- Spontaneous avalanches pose a direct threat to high-altitude settlements and tourists.
- Dense fog may paralyse motorways and flights in Punjab and Sindh.
- Farmers warned that black frost could damage sensitive wheat and vegetables.
- Residents and hikers must strictly avoid known avalanche-prone mountain corridors.
- Public urged to monitor the NDMA app for real-time emergency updates.
ISLAMABAD: Authorities have issued a stark “stay away” warning for Pakistan’s northern mountain ranges as a fresh wave of heavy snow threatens to trigger life-threatening avalanches over the coming week.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) moved to high alert on Friday, predicting that the period between January 23 and 29 will be the most dangerous window for residents and tourists alike.
As a moderate westerly system sweeps across Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the heavy snowfall is creating a “deadly trap” on steep slopes.
Mountains under deadly pressure
The danger is not just the snow falling — it is what happens right after.
Experts at the National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) explain that as temperatures plummet following the storm, fresh snow layers fail to bond with the frozen ground. This instability creates a high risk of spontaneous avalanches that can bury roads and entire settlements in seconds.
A country divided by weather
While the north faces the threat of sliding mountains, the rest of the country is dealing with its own set of winter hazards. In the highlands, vital link roads are expected to disappear under snowdrifts, potentially cutting off remote villages.
Meanwhile, the plains of Punjab and Upper Sindh, a “white-out” of a different kind, is expected. Dense morning fog may paralyse motorways and cancel flights, making early-morning commutes a gamble.
Farmers are bracing for frost, which threatens to wither sensitive vegetable crops and early-stage wheat, potentially driving up food prices in the coming weeks.
Stay safe, stay informed
The NDMA’s message is blunt: If you don’t need to be on the mountain roads, don’t be. Herders and high-altitude hikers have been told to avoid known avalanche corridors, while tourists chasing snow selfies were advised to stay within safe, urban limits.
Emergency teams and snow-clearing machinery have been pre-positioned at key bottlenecks, but officials warn that the sheer scale of the cold wave could overwhelm local resources.
For those in the path of the storm, the Pak NDMA Disaster Alert app has become a digital lifeline, providing real-time updates as the weather system evolves. For now, the message to the north is clear: stay indoors, stay warm, and stay off the slopes.
