January 19, 2008	Saturday	Muharram 09, 1429

MUZAFFARABAD, Jan 18: Two persons were killed and four injured after being hit by stones, caused by a landslide along the Neelum Valley Road on Friday.

Superintendent Police Syed Zahoor Gillani told Dawn that the incident occurred near the village of Simari, some 50kilometres northeast of here, after a passenger bus and two other vehicles were trapped underneath the landslide at the narrow road winding through the lofty mountains.

Quoting witnesses, he said big stones from the mountainside hit the vehicles, killing two passengers and injuring four.

The deceased were identified as Niaz and Shaukat. The injured were Inayatullah and Samiullah (brothers), Ikhlaq and Riyaz.

Meanwhile, Muzaffarabad city and its surroundings were blanketed by the snow in the wee hours of Friday, after temperatures plummeted to freezing point.

The thin layer of snow in the town area melted shortly afterwards but at the surrounding hills it had sustained, feasting the eyes particularly after the weather became bright and sunny at around midday. Though the snowfall thrilled many, it did bring problems for those living in temporary shelters and tents.—Staff Correspondent