28 March 2016

A terrifying video of two coaches trapped by “shooting rocks” in Pakistan

Posted by Dave Petley

A terrifying video of “shooting rocks” from the Karakorum Highway in Pakistan

Youtube has an amazing and terrifying video of two coaches trapped by “shooting rocks” – very high velocity rockfalls – on the Karakorum Highway in Pakistan.  These boulders, some of which are very large, have managed to get into the high velocity, bouncing mode that is so dangerous:

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Particularly impressive is the boulder at the 28 second point, shown below.  This boulder has entered the mode of movement in which it is rotating around its short axis, allowing very large bounces and high velocities to develop.  It is a good thing this did not strike the coaches:

Shooting rocks on the Karakorum Highway

Shooting rocks on the Karakorum Highway, via a Youtube video

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It is not clear as to where this occurred on the Karakorum Highway, but fortunately there were no casualties.  It must have been terrifying for those on the buses though.