January 10, 2008	Thursday	Zilhaj 30, 1428

MUZAFFARABAD, Jan 9: A TV channel report about an avalanche in the Neelum valley on Wednesday turned out to be incorrect and the authorities said that no such incident had occurred anywhere in the valley.

The TV channels had reported that a village in the upper belt of the snowbound valley, located northeast of Muzaffarabad, had been struck by the avalanche.

Neelum Deputy Commissioner Imtiaz Ahmed told Dawn that the reports were based on ‘some misunderstanding’.

He, however, said there had been heavy snowfall in the upper belt of the Neelum valley, which had rendered it inaccessible. The lower belt of the valley also was covered by more than one feet of snow but several portions of the main road had been cleared, he added.

Officials here said the incessant rains had triggered a number of landslides along the roads in Jhelum and Neelum valleys, cutting off several villages and towns from Muzaffarabad.

Local met office said the capital city had received more than 110mm rain over the past five days and it was expected to continue for another 24 hours.