Snowfall cuts off Astore from country

Published November 18, 2003

ASTORE, Nov 17: Heavy snowfall and rains have triggered a series of landslide and blocked the Shahra-i-Astore for all kinds of vehicular traffic.

The heavy snowfall and torrential rains pounding on the area since Sunday night have cut off the communication links of the Astore valley from the rest of the country.

Speaking to APP here on Monday, Frontier Works Organization sources said that one-km road of the valley had been badly damaged in the torrential rains and heavy snowfall.

They said the FWO was making hectic efforts to restore traffic on the highway, and expressed the hope that the Shahra-i-Astore would be opened for light vehicular traffic within a couple of days if rain stopped.

Omar Shah, member union council of Dashkin village, told APP that the Astore valley also received two jolts of mild intensity at about 3am on Monday, but there were no reports of casualty or damage to property.

RAINS, SNOWFALL IN MANSEHRA: The first spell of rains of the winter season with heavy snowfall in the hilly areas on Sunday sent a chill to all parts of Mansehra district.

The mountainous areas of Kaghan and Konsh valleys have been wrapped in the snow blankets as the winter this year in the area has begun with its typical intensity in the second week of November after an interval of about nine years.

According to reports, the tourist resort of Naran received one-and-a-half feet of snowfall. From Naran onwards.—APP

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