MURREE, Dec 10: Heavy snowfall in the mountains that followed day-long rains sent a chill across northern Pakistan including the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Sunday.

In Murree most of the roads in and around the hill station were blocked by snow which started falling about 6pm.

Hundreds of vehicles were stuck between Ghora Gali and Bansra Gali, on the road to Islamabad, which was covered by one foot of snow within an hour, stranding thousands of people who throng the resort town at the weekend.

Snow-clearing machinery could not be moved because the road, was clogged with thousands of vehicles coming from both sides which had no room to manoeuvre as the laying of a gas pipeline has narrowed the road.

Murree Town Nazim Sardar Saleem Khan, however, promised to newsmen that all roads would be cleared “after it stops snowing”.

Temperature plunged by several degrees in the region. In Murree it went down to -4 Centigrade. The freezing cold confined the citizens in their homes.

Though gas has reached Murree, the citizens have not been connected to its distribution system as yet. Prices of the LPG has meanwhile increased and is in short supply, adding to the miseries of the citizens.

Firewood that usually sustained the poor in the cold weather was not arranged this year in anticipation that piped gas would be available.

Twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad also received light rain in the morning dropping the temperature. Rawalpindi also received hailstorm in Saddar and other areas. Cold and dry weather is expected in most part of the country. However isolated rain with snowfall is likely in Kashmir, adjoining areas and Gilgit-Baltistan and other hilly areas.

According to Meteorological Department, weather will remain cloudy in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, chances of rain with thunderstorm and snow in Murree. Lowest temperature was recorded at Kalam and Babusar at -10 Celsius. Pollen count is Islamabad was at 28 per cubic meter. Minimum temperature in Islamabad was 4.

APP adds: A large number of people including Rawalpindi and Islamabad thronged to Murree as heavy snowfall began Sunday evening.

According to reports, heavy snowfall started in the evening which blocked the roads leading to Murree and adjacent areas.

The local administration were working with heavy machinery to remove the snow from the roads.

Continuing snowfall in the Northern Areas has cut off their road links with rest of the country.

Muzaffarabad and the adjoining mountainous areas continued to receive snowfall. Muzaffarabad-Srinagar Road was blocked at Sawan by land-sliding caused by heavy rains that preceded the snowfall.

Meanwhile, Neelum Valley Road, which was closed on Saturday, has been cleared from Muzaffarabad to Athmuqam. However Sharda- Keel Road in upper Neelum Valley remained closed to all traffic.

Snow again fell in Naran and Saiful Malook Lake areas while the weather remained cloudy but chilly in plain areas.

Balakot-Naran Road remained blocked at several places and the quake victims living in tents and shelters were braving bitter cold.

Most of the roads of Galyat are still closed. Nathiagali- Murree Road was cleared of snow but fresh snow could block it again. Thandiani-Patankhurd Road faced a similar fate. Chitral received heavy snow and Lowari Top remained impassable.

Fresh snow on Parachinar’s Koh-i-Sufaid mountainous chain lowered temperature in Kurram Agency and adjoining areas. People throng to Murree as heavy snowfall begins