ISLAMABAD, Dec 6: The Met office on Tuesday again warned that the coming winter was likely to be harsher than usual in the earthquake-hit areas, especially those situated over 8,000 feet above sea level. Pakistan Meteorological Department Director-General Dr Qamaruz Zaman Chaudhry said all those people living on mountains in the earthquake-hit areas without proper shelter and sufficient food provisions should move down immediately into camps and shelters set up by the government.

He said the next weather system was expected after about a weeks time and was likely to bring more rains. In about two weeks, most of the mountainous areas in Neelam Valley including Naran and Kaghan were likely to be cut off making these inaccessible and it would become almost impossible to deliver supplies such as food and medicines to the affected zones, the expert said.

He stressed that earthquake survivors living high in the mountains needed to move down where supplies and assistance could be supplemented during harsh winter conditions.

“Weather window is closing very fast. If we really want to avoid another disaster, then it is urgently needed that these people are forced to come down from the mountains.

Snowfall can most definitely be heavier than normal both in frequency and quantity with temperatures dropping below normal starting from mid December through February,” he said.

Night temperatures in January can fall as low as -20C, he added.