MINGORA, Jan 23: Chilly weather caused by snowfall and heavy rain marred the celebrations of Eidul Azha. Entire Swat valley has been in the grip of severe cold for three days , which has forced people to stay indoors instead of visiting their near and dear ones.

Rains had been continuously pouring here on the first two days of Eid. The hills around Mingora and Saidu Sharif have received heavy snowfall. The communication system of various valleys with Mingora has been suspended for the last about 20 days as heavy snowfall has closed roads.

The people are facing shortage of food and other daily use items. The inhabitants of those areas have to walk for about 25 kilometres to fetch daily use items on their shoulders.

Only one bulldozer has been engaged to clear the roads of the heavy snow. They complain that in case of shifting patients to the hospitals, or carrying the dead, they had to get help of a number of people.

There is no arrangement of health care and supply of food items to the people of Oshu, Glacier, Matiltan, etc. The authorities of the district government maintain that the construction and repair work of the Behrain-Kalam road had been assigned to the Frontier Highway Authority and it was the FHA's duty to clear the roads.

The nazims of the upper parts of Swat have demanded of the provincial government to take immediate action and clear the roads because the people were in extremely difficult situation.