GILGIT, July 14: Heavy rain and winds lashed Northern Areas on Wednesday and Thursday. Although power supply in the city was disrupted, people welcomed the rain which provided some relief from the oppressive heat.

The Karakoram Highway was blocked on Wednesday night by a landslide triggered by rains near Chilas. Floods and lightening strikes had recently killed four people and hundreds of cattle in Thack Niyat area.

Hundreds of local people and tourists are stranded near the road blocked by landslides. Personnel of the Frontier Works Organisation were trying to re-open the road for traffic.

There are reports about damage to some irrigation channels.