MANSEHRA/SHANGLA: The upper parts of Hazara division received the second spell of rain and snowfall triggering the blockade of roads on Monday.

The rain and snow began to fall in the early hours and continued intermittently all through the day in Mansehra, Torghar, Kolai-Palas, Upper and Lower Kohistan districts. Severe cold gripped the region.

Kaghan, Siren and Konsh valleys in Mansehra and Kandia and Spat valleys in Upper Kohistan received the heaviest snowfall of the season.

The Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road was blocked at various points due to snowfall and landslides.

The link roads were also blocked in the high-altitude parts of the division creating hurdles for the movement of the residents.

The Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road, which was blocked at various points during the first spell of snowfall in the Kaghan valley, remained closed to traffic beyond Basal area. Also, Shangla district received a second spell of snowfall on Monday.

Snow blanketed the district’s upper parts and the weather turned cold. The Bisham-Swat link roads in the valley were blocked due to snowfall.

Rain in lower parts of the district and snowfall in upper parts began on Monday morning and continued intermittently throughout the day covering mountains with snow.

The residents said heavy snowfall led to the blockade of the Bisham-Swat Road at Shangla Top, Alpuri-Puran Road in Yakhtangay, Karora-Alpuri Road in Kandaw and Martung-Bunir Road causing hardships to passengers.

The district administration urged the people to avoid necessary travel on Shangla roads and said if the journey was inevitable, snow chains should be used by motorists in snowbound areas.

In the last first spell of snowfall, Shangla had received up to two feet of snow.

During the current spell, snow fell in the district’s upper parts up to a foot restricting the residents of remote areas to their houses.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2020