MURREE, March 15: Tourists thronged Murree, Galliyat and adjoining areas after the road to Nathiagali was opened for light vehicles on Saturday.

A large number of people from the Punjab and the NWFP are visiting Murree and its surrounding areas to enjoy the cold weather, and snow on Abbotabad road. After the passage of about one month, the highway department has succeeded in opening the Abbottabad road for light traffic.

A number of shops in different Galliyat and bazaars of the area are still covered with snow. The people who travel on public transport vehicles have been facing great difficulties. Some people, who work as agents for different hotels, are busy misguiding the people at Changla Gali just to mint money. They tell the tourists that the roads are closed, asking them to stay at the hotels and restaurant they work for.

The heavy snowfall had brought the life to a standstill in the Hazara division and some part of Murree like Darya Gali and Barian.