Over a foot of snowfall shuts roads, strands residents and disrupts communications
Mountainous areas from Galiyat to Gilgit-Baltistan have witnessed a fresh spell of snowfall. PHOTOS: SHABBIR MIR & MOHAMMAD SADAQAT/EXPRESS
ABBOTTABAD:
More than a foot of snowfall blanketed the Galiyat region, including Nathia Gali and Thandiani on Wednesday, disrupting road links and paralysing communication networks.
The district administration advised residents and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel to Galiyat and Thandiani.
Continuous rainfall in the city has further intensified the cold. Since late last night, intermittent heavy snowfall exceeding one foot has been recorded in Galiyat, Nathia Gali, Ayubia, Miranjani and the mountainous areas of Thandiani, covering mountains, trees, roads, pathways, and residential and commercial areas in thick snow.
Machinery of the Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa Highways Department is engaged in clearing snow from Murree Road, although ongoing snowfall is hampering operations. Salt is also being spread to reduce slipperiness.
In view of the risk of landslides after 5pm, the Barrian-Nathia Gali road has been closed to traffic. Vehicles are being allowed to pass only under strict safety measures due to hazardous road conditions. According to sources, the Abbottabad-Nathia Gali Murree Road has been closed to tourists, while local residents are being allowed through after identification.
Snow accumulation in Nathia Gali and Thandiani has reached between one and one-and-a-half feet. All link roads in Galiyat and Thandiani remain closed, leaving residents confined to their areas. Communication networks have been severely disrupted, and several localities are reportedly without electricity.
Many link roads in adjoining areas had not yet been fully restored following the previous spell of snowfall when the latest snowfall further compounded residents’ difficulties.
Earlier, the performance of the Communication and Works (C&W) Department, Galiyat Development Authority (GDA), and the KITE project had drawn criticism, as several days passed without full restoration of link roads.
The district administration stated that machinery from C&W, GDA and the KITE project is actively engaged in road clearance operations. However, questions remain over how link roads can be cleared when even the main Murree and Thandiani roads have yet to be fully restored.
Emergency contact numbers have been issued, and citizens and tourists have once again been urged to avoid unnecessary travel. Reports have also been received of people being stranded in Nathia Gali, Ayubia.
