ISLAMABAD: The National Highway Authority (NHA) on Thursday said that the Lowari Tunnel will remain closed to all traffic on Friday due to fresh snow as well as an avalanche over the Lowari Top.
In a public message, the NHA spokesman said that the 8.9 km-long road tunnel would remain closed to all kinds of traffic while the process of clearing the snow around the tunnel would continue. As per the standard operating procedure, the tunnel is opened twice a week – on Friday and on Tuesday – to facilitate the movement of traffic.
Last week, officials said that the decision to let vehicles use the tunnel two days a week was made on the instructions of the Prime Minister. The Lowari Top is the only ground link to Chitral and its closure leaves people stranded on both sides of the area. Having been under-construction since 2005, the tunnel is being built to bypass the Top.
