GILGIT: Army helicopters on Friday lifted stranded passengers on the Gilgit-Skardu Road.

According to official sources, the Gilgit-Skardu Road was blocked at Basho area due to landslides after heavy snowfall recently, stranding passengers, including patients, students, senior citizens and government servants.

The army helicopters initiated the rescue operation to get the stranded passengers lifted.

Currently, GB people, particularly residents of upper areas of Baltistan division, Astore, Ghizer, Nagar and Hunza districts, are facing difficulties due to heavy snowfall. Road communication has been badly affected.

The administrative officials said work was underway to clear the roads of landslides and snow. They said heavy machinery had been deployed on the Gilgit-Skardu Road to clear it of debris.

TREE FELLING BANNED: The Diamer deputy commissioner on Friday imposed section 144 banning illegal cutting and transportation of timber across the district.

According to a press release, the ban will remain in force for 60 days in Daril, Tangier and Chilas areas, where complaints regarding deforestation were rampant. The violators would be punished as per the law of the land as deforestation increased the risk of environmental pollution, land erosion, floods and global warming.

It was stated that the destruction of trees and wildlife reduced the quality of life.

The Diamer deputy commissioner said that the district administration was launching an effective awareness campaign to highlight the importance of farming so that the precious forest gift could be saved.

He appealed to the people to support the government’s initiative to protect the forests.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2020