UPPER DIR/ABBOTTABAD, Feb 6: Life continued to be paralysed in most parts of Upper Dir and Galayat region on Monday due to heavy snowfall, which led to very low temperatures, road blockades, suspension of electric supply and telephone services, and surge in food and fuel prices.
By Monday, Dir town, the main city in the district, received one foot snowfall.Though majority of shops in its main bazaars remained opened, only a few customers were seen.
Electric supply was restored to the town after 36 hours long suspension.
As incessant snowfall forced people to stay indoors, traffic on the roads remained thin. And those who stepped out complained of slippery pathways.
Heavy snowfall in Kohistan, Barawal and Usherai left people heading towards nearby villages stranded.
Snowfall of two to three feet was recorded in Doog Darra, Thal, Kalkot, Patrak, Gwaldai and Ganshal areas in Kohistan.
Zahir Shah, a resident of Sheringal area, said road to Doog Darra, Ganshal, Lamoti, Gwaldai and other villages had been blocked by snowfall, while the road from Sheringal to Dir was open but only a few vehicles were plying it.
He complained of overcharging by transporters and said their repeated requests to the district coordination officer for corrective measures had fallen on deaf ears. He said snowfall had led Doog Darra, Patrak, Kalkot and Thal telephone exchanges dead.Mohammad Idrees, a Barawal resident, said snowfall of three feet had been recorded in his area. He said roads to Shahi, Shaltalo, Shingarai, Nusrat Darrat and other mountainous villages from his area had been blocked.
The Met Office said 65 millimeters rain was recorded in Upper Dir over the last three days.
In Galayat region's Thandiynai, Ayubia, Nathiagali, Donga Gali, Changla Gali and Abbottabad areas, snowfall of four to five feet has so far been recorded.
The administration has closed the road from Abbottabad to Murree via Nathiagali to traffic of all kinds. All its links roads have been closed for the last 15 days. Likewise, the roads linking Pattan Kalan to Thandiyani via Chambili, Abbottabad to Namli Mera, Nathiagali to Kohala via Balakot, Kalabagh to Sajan Gali, Bara Gali to Khaira Gali via to Nagri Bala Barian and Nathiagali to Ayubia are also closed to traffic.
The Galayat Development Authority has yet to clear snow on these roads.
