MANSEHRA/SHANGLA: The urban and mountainous parts of the Kaghan Valley of Mansehra district on Tuesday received the season’s heaviest snowfall, blocking the artery connecting the tourist resort of Shogran with the high-altitude scenic destination of Siri Paya.

“Policemen have been deployed to assist visitors and allow them to proceed from Kawai to Shogran only if they adopt necessary precautionary measures on the steep and dangerous route,” district police officer Shafiullah Khan Gandapur told reporters.

Snowfall, which began in the early hours of Tuesday in Shogran, Kaghan town, Naran and other parts of the valley, continued intermittently throughout the day. Kaghan town, which remains accessible to visitors and residents in the entire winter, also received the season’s heaviest snowfall.

However, upper parts of Kaghan Valley have been cut off from rest of the country since mid-November due to blockade of the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road.

Shogran and Siri Paya also received heavy snowfall, which blocked the bumpy stream route connecting both the destinations. A small number of visitors already staying in local hotels in Shogran enjoyed the snowfall.

Meanwhile, the upper parts of the Hazara division received light rain. The rain, which began early in the morning in parts of Mansehra, Torghar, Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan, and Kolai-Palas districts, continued intermittently throughout the day.

Also, the upper parts of Shangla district received fresh snowfall and rains lashed the plains, breaking the long dry spell.

It started snowing and raining on Monday night and continued on Tuesday.

Residents said Yakhtangay, Shangla Top, Lilownai, Ajmeer, Spen Ghar, Gamtal and Kandaw received snowfall.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2025