GILGIT: The upper parts of Gilgit-Baltistan have received heavy snowfall, bringing temperatures to sub-zero level.

Skardu, Ghanche, Kharmang, Shigar, Ghizer, Hunza Nagar and Astore districts in Baltistan division received heavy snowfall, blocking roads and stranding the locals indoors.

An official of GB food department told Dawn on condition of anonymity that the department would dispatch basic commodities of life, including wheat, to the snow-bound areas in Skardu, Astore and Hunza-Nagar districts. The official added that wheat to be dispatched to the villages was stocked in government stores of the respective villages.

Safdar Mirza, a local, said snowfall had led to increase in prices of firewood and LPG. He said the snow-bound areas also remained without electricity throughout the winter.

Meanwhile, people in Chilas, the district headquarters of Diamer district, took to the streets against electricity outages. A large number of political and social parties also joined the protesters who gathered at the Siddiq-i-Akbar Chowk, chanting slogans against the government.

The protest was called by Diamer Youth Organisation. The protesters also burnt tires on the road, assailing the officials of power and water department for treating them unfairly.

Speaking to the protesters, PML-N Diamer division president Abdul Waheed, PTI senior vice president Shah Nasir, PPP leader Haji Mubeen and Diamer Youth Organisation leader Shabbir Ahmed said 22 hours of power loadshedding continued in the area.

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2017