MANSEHRA: Another spell of heavy snowfall hit the high altitudes areas on Tuesday, compounding the miseries of residents, who were already reeling from blocked roads and electric supply suspension, as a woman died after roof of her house collapsed in Bajaur during rain.

The Kaghan, Siran and Konsh valleys, along with other mountainous parts of Mansehra district, and Kandia and Spat valleys in Kohistan, received heavy snowfall.

Roads in snowbound parts of Mansehra, Torghar, Kolai-Palas, Upper Kohistan and Lower Kohistan remained blocked, causing severe hardships to residents.

The Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad (MNJ) Road, which links the tourist resort of Shogran, was blocked to even four-wheel-drives owing to heavy snowfall.

Woman dies as roof collapses in Bajaur during rain

“The MNJ Road is blocked to traffic beyond Paras, and visitors are not being allowed to proceed towards the Kaghan Valley due to harsh weather and heavy snowfall, which could endanger their lives,” district police officer Mohammad Azhar Khan told reporters.

He said tourists’ movement towards the Kaghan Valley, Shogran, Siran, Konsh and other high-altitude scenic spots was being restricted in line with a travel advisory issued by Hazara DIG Nasir Mehmood Satti and commissioner Fayyaz Ali Shah.

Meanwhile, heavy snowfall lashed Nathiagali, Ayubia, Dongagali, Changlagali, Thandiyani and other hilly areas of Abbottabad closing roads despite efforts by the district administration and Rescue 1122 to keep them cleared of snow.

A large number of stranded tourists were safely rescued; however, traffic police and district administration barred further tourist entry from Harno and Barian areas in view of the grave situation.

Roads in Barangli, Thandiyani, Bandi, Chambiali and Sialkot have remained closed for the past five days, leading to shortage of essential commodities.

Another spell of snowfall accompanied by intermittent rain swept across the mountainous districts of Upper South Waziristan and Lower South Waziristan on Tuesday evening, posing challenges to mobility in high-altitude areas.

The snowfall continued intermittently in the upper reaches, while lower and plain areas received steady rainfall.

Areas affected by the snowfall included Angoor Adda, Shakai, Khamrang, Raghzai, Zam Cheena, Margha Cheena, Kaniguram, Badar, Makeen, Ladha, and surrounding mountainous regions.

A fresh spell of heavy snowfall continued across the Shangla district, further intensifying the cold as the district administration arrested several drivers and registered FIRs against them for violating Section 144 imposed in snowbound areas after they were found driving vehicles without snow chains.

According to a statement issued by the deputy commissioner’s office, the action was taken under Section 186 for disobeying lawful orders issued by the administration to ensure public safety during heavy snowfall.

Meanwhile, snow removal operations were underway on the Dehrai-Chakesar Road, where heavy accumulation has made movement difficult. Officials said teams are working continuously to clear the road and make it completely safe for traffic at the earliest. However, persistent snowfall has slowed progress in some stretches.

The Battagram district received a fresh spell of rain and snowfall on Tuesday, and the administration deployed heavy machinery to open roads. Intense snowfall was recorded in Battagram and Allai tehsils.

The district has been without power supply for the last five days as pylons fell in some areas. Link roads in many areas of Allai remained blocked.

The main Karakorum Highway at the Chattar Plain Top was cleared of snow, allowing stranded passengers to move towards Gilgit.

A fresh spell of rainfall continued for the second day in Bajaur on Tuesday accompanied by snowfall in the mountainous areas.

Rescue 1122 officials and local residents said a woman died in the hilly Chinar area of Salarzai tehsil when the roof of a house collapsed due to rain.

The 45-year-old woman, wife of Bahadur Khan, was sitting in the room when its roof collapsed, leaving her critically injured, said her family members.

Rescuers rushed her to the District Headquarters Hospital in Khar but she succumbed to her injuries.

Intermittent rain and snowfall continued in the Lowari Tunnel and its surrounding areas in Chitral.

National Highway Authority has deployed its machinery on the Lowari approach road and Garam Chashma link road, while machinery of TMA and communication and works department is actively engaged in snow removal in other parts of the district

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2026