More than a foot of snowfall closes roads, strands residents and disrupts communications
The mountainous areas of Galiyat in Gilgit-Baltistan witnessed another round of snowfall. PHOTOS: SHABBIR MIR & MOHAMMAD SADAQAT/EXPRESS
ABBOTTABAD:
More than a foot of snow covered the Galiyat region, including Nathia Gali and Thandiani on Wednesday, disrupting road links and paralyzing communication networks.
The district administration has advised residents and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel to Galiyat and Thandiani.
Continuous rains in the city have further intensified the cold. Since late last night, intermittent heavy snowfall exceeding one foot was recorded in Galiyat, Nathia Gali, Ayubia, Miranjani and mountainous areas of Thandiani, covering mountains, trees, roads, trails and residential and commercial areas with heavy snow.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Highways Department machines are engaged in clearing snow from Murree Road, although the ongoing snowfall is hampering operations. Salt is also spread to reduce slipperiness.
Given the risk of landslides after 5 p.m., the Barrian-Nathia Gali road was closed to traffic. Vehicles are only allowed to pass under strict security measures due to dangerous road conditions. According to sources, the Abbottabad-Nathia Gali Murree road has been closed for tourists, while local residents are allowed to pass after identification.
Snow accumulation in Nathia Gali and Thandiani reached between a foot and a half. All connecting roads to Galiyat and Thandiani remain closed, leaving residents confined to their areas. Communication networks have been seriously disrupted and several localities are said to be without electricity.
Many connecting roads in neighboring areas had not yet been fully restored after the previous spell of snow, when the latest snowfall further compounded the plight of residents.
Previously, the performance of the Communications and Works Department (C&W), Galiyat Development Authority (GDA) and the KITE project had drawn criticism as several days passed without full restoration of the link roads.
The district administration said that machines of C&W, GDA and KITE project are actively engaged in road clearance operations. However, questions remain as to how the link roads can be cleared when even the main roads in Murree and Thandiani are yet to be fully restored.
Emergency telephone numbers have been issued and citizens and tourists have once again been asked to avoid unnecessary travel. Reports were also received of people stranded in Nathia Gali, Ayubia.
