GILGIT, Feb 18: Heavy rain and snowfall on Tuesday cut off the road and aerial link of the Northern Areas.

The Karakoram Highway was blocked at Shitiyal and Barseen on Monday due to landslides, sources in the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) said. Pakistan International Airlines flights from Islamabad have been suspended for the last five days due to cloudy weather.

Heavy rains have also blocked the Gilgit-Astore road that has affected relief operations in the quake-affected areas. Nagar, Hunza, Gojal and Astore valleys received heavy snowfall on Tuesday and are in the grip of severe cold.

Avalanches also hit the Chalt, Pisan and Nilt valleys in Nagar subdivision.