GILGIT, April 2: Heavy rains coupled with snowfall in most parts of the Northern Areas paralysed life and business activities on Sunday. The rains that had started on Saturday night intensified on Sunday with snowfall blocking the Karakoram Highway near Kohistan district in the NWFP.

The KKH was reopened only three days ago. Reports reaching from the area said that hundreds of passengers were stranded across the blockade. A portion of KKH near Sost border town has also been blocked by landslides.

The areas of Astore, Phander, Gojal, Babusar and Chupurson received heavy snowfall leaving people confined to their homes. In the Gilgit district, hill torrents inundated roads and streets disrupting power supply and telephone systems.

The sources said that the tourism department had to postpone a women’s fair that was to be opened in connection with the Spring Blossom Festival in the region.