SKARDU, Dec 29: Breaking a long dry spell, Northern Areas, including Baltistan, has received the winter season's first heavy snowfall due to which has paralyzed the normal life in the region.

The snow that started on Monday night continued on Wednesday. The communication system from Skardu to other parts of the world has been totally jammed as transporters cancelled routine transport services from Skardu to Gilgit, Rawalpindi, Khaplu, Shigar and Kharmang to avoid any accident and fear of road blockade. However, no news of any road blockade has been report till now.

Air link from Islamabad to Skardu has also been cut off for the last five days. Hundreds of people including patients have stuck on either sides or facing severe problems.

In Skardu city, most shops and trading centres have remained closed the whole day and very less vehicles were seen plying on the roads due to heavy snow fall and cold wave.

Reports received from upper mountainous villages like, Sadpara, Tandal chunda, Shila Gultary and Basho, Bralso, heavy snow forced people to bound at homes the whole day and activities of daily life became a stand still. However, the recent spell would expectedly put a good impact on agriculture and there would be no shortage of irrigation water during summer season.