ABBOTTABAD, Jan 2: Earthquake survivors in Balakot, Battagram and other areas who are living in tent villages are once again battling against the elements as heavy rain and snowfall continued to lash the quake-hit areas for the second day.

Main roads in almost all earthquake-hit areas have been blocked due to heavy snowfall and landslides. The roads from Balakot to Naran-Kaghan, Abbottabad to Nathiagali-Murree and Battagram-Alai remain closed for all sorts of traffic.

Almost 40 per cent tents had collapsed under the weight of snow and there was an acute shortage of clean drinking water in the quake-affected areas.

Helicopters have completely suspended relief operations due to the heavy snowfall. It is extremely tough for relief agencies to carry out relief work due to the same reason.

An army spokesman, while talking to Dawn from the Mansehra base camp by telephone, said the Frontier Works Organization and army engineering battalion had been put on alert and would start clearing roads as soon as it had stopped snowing.

He claimed that the situation in all earthquake-affected areas was under control.

He said that a stockpile of foodstuffs and other necessary items had been stored at army warehouses for distributing among the earthquake-affected people.