PESHAWAR, Jan 22: Upper parts of Hazara and Malakand regions received heavy snowfall during the last 24 hours as intermittent rains lashed larger parts of the NWFP, including the provincial capital on Thursday.

Galiyat and surrounding valleys received four to six feet snow cutting off road links with main tourist resorts. Thandiyani-Abbottabad road was also closed for traffic.

Met officials here on Thursday forecast more snowfall in the high altitude areas and downpour in the lowland region of the province and the adjacent tribal areas during the next 24 hours. The weather will remain cloudy in Peshawar valley.

The Met office here recorded 23.9 millimetre downpour during the last 48 hours. On Thursday 11.8 millimetre rain was recorded in the provincial metropolis till 5pm, while minimum temperature remained at 9.3 degree Celsius.

Our correspondent from Abbottabad adds: Murree-Abbottabad road was completely closed from Bagnother onward and three to four feet snowfall was recorded in Nathiagali, Donga Gali, Changla Gali, Ayubia, while six to seven feet snowfall was reported from Mira Jani peak in Galiyat. Beside the main road, all the link roads in those areas were also blocked.

Malam Jaba, the country's main skiing resort, Kalam and other upper parts of Swat have received heavy snowfall, while there was rain in Mingora town, our correspondent from Mingora adds.

Chitral is also under heavy snow and bad weather forced the PIA to suspend flight operation for the valley.Met officials said other areas including Mardan, Nowshera, Kohat, Hangu, Bannu, D. I. Khan, Charsadda, Swabi, Haripur and the adjacent tribal areas also received rainfall.