Two highways in the mountains of Dagestan are closed after snowfall.
The Kharibsky and Butsrakhsky passes in the mountains of Dagestan, which carry national highways, are closed. Special equipment has been dispatched to clear the roads of snow.
As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," the national highway between Khasavyurt and Tlokh passes through the Kharibsky Pass. In May 2023, more than 20 tourists were stranded in the mountains because the Kharibsky Pass was closed due to snowfall. Local residents came to the tourists' aid and later provided them with overnight accommodation.
The Kharibsky Pass is located on the border of the Gumbetovsky and Kazbekovsky districts at an altitude of over 2,500 meters above sea level. The villages of Artlukh and Danukh are located at the foot of the mountain. Historically, this pass served as a link between the mountainous and lowland Dagestan. In winter, snowstorms and avalanches are common at the pass, according to the Gumbetovsky District Administration website.
In the Gumbetovsky District, traffic through the Kharibsky and Butsrakhsky passes is closed due to snowfall, the district administration reported today on its Telegram channel.
"Work to clear the roadway of snow will begin as soon as the weather clears. Please note that the Kharibsky pass is a section of the Khasavyurt-Tlokh national road, and the Butsrakhsky pass is part of the Mekhelta-Gagatli regional highway," the publication states.
The Kharibsky pass is closed on two adjacent sections of the Khasavyurt-Tlokh highway in the Gumbetovsky and Kazbekovsky districts "due to heavy snowfall." "Dagestanavtodor" reported on its Telegram channel.
Three pieces of equipment—two DT-75 bulldozers and one excavator—are on duty at the site in the Gumbetovsky District. Clearing will begin "upon the arrival of favorable weather conditions." Meanwhile, clearing work is already underway at the pass in the Kazbekovsky District. "One piece of equipment—a DT-75 bulldozer—is in operation," the agency reported at 10:59 a.m. Moscow time.
The Mekhelta-Gagatli highway, between km 10 and 18, is also closed "due to deep snow cover." "One piece of equipment, a DT-75 bulldozer, is on duty at the site. Clearing work will begin when favorable weather conditions arrive," the publication states.
Remember, residents of Dagestan's mountain villages have repeatedly encountered transportation problems due to inclement weather. For example, in early February, roads in the Tsuntinsky District were blocked by snow after avalanches, and local residents had to carry the body of a deceased person several kilometers for burial in his home village.
On March 25, 2025, an avalanche hit a road in the Tsuntinsky District. A temporary passage was established, but the next day, another avalanche occurred in the same area. Local residents were forced to help repair power lines after sleet brought down wires.
In February 2023, residents of the village of Khutrakh in the Tsuntinsky District were forced to carry a woman in need of urgent medical attention for two kilometers through snowdrifts. Due to the snowfall, the roads were covered in a thick layer of snow, preventing ambulances from reaching the area.