ISLAMABAD, Jan 5: Intermittent snowfall in the upper areas of the country continued and link-roads in several areas have been closed amidst heaps of snow on them.

According to reports received from these areas, Nathiagali and its surrounding areas continued receiving snowfall sporadically, which blocked the Abbotabad-Murree main highway for all traffic.

And snowfall in the district Mansehra’s upper areas, Naran valley, Kaghan, Hungrai and Ghanol, also continued for the whole night and the Shahrh-e-Kaghan at several places was blocked due to avalanche. Skardu aslo remained in the grip of snowfall, while Ghazar and Gilgit witnessed clear sky after a rain spell.

Cold weather has gripped Muzaffarabad and the surrounding mountainous areas because of snowfall and several link-roads have been blocked.

Residents of these areas are bearing the brunt of cold weather and their difficulties stand aggravated with increase in the prices of fuel wood.

Also, Swat’s upper areas - Malam Jabba and Kalam – are severely hit by snowfall recorded at least six feet in the three days. The Bahrain-Kalam Road still remains closed. The Lowari Top in Chitral is also still blocked because of snow and link of sub-division Mastuj with other areas has been cut off.

Chaman town, most of northern Balochistan, including Kan Mehtarzai, were also in the grip of chill and the mercury has dropped several degrees below the freezing point.—APP

Our Correspondent from Hunza adds: Heavy snowfall in Hunza and Nagar valleys has brought life to a standstill and disrupted traffic on several roads.

The snowfall started since Friday night was recorded five inches in the lower valleys and a foot in the upper valleys, breaking the record of 10 years.

The freezing weather coupled with shortage of fuel and outage of electricity has further increased hardships of the people.

According to reports, the upper Hunza-Gojal has received light snow as compared to that at central Hunza and upper Nagar. The weather in most parts of Gojal is dry.

The snowfall in Hunza has also provided water to the residents seeking it for irrigation as well as drinking purpose.

It is worth mentioning here that the valley was facing drought like situation for the last many years.

According to Met Office’s forecasts, the snowfall will continue for some more days.

Our Correspondent from Gilgit adds: The Karakuram Highway (KKH) was reopened for all kinds of traffic on Monday, an official told this reporter. The highway had been blocked because of landslide near Murtazabad, Hunza, following rains and heavy snowfall.

Hundreds of trucks with goods and passenger vehicles were stranded on the highway.