MANSEHRA, Feb 23: The Karakoram Highway (KKH), which was blocked by snowfall and landslides, has been opened for traffic from Thakot to Barsin, a Frontier Works Organization spokesman told newsmen here on Sunday.

The spokesman said if the weather remained clear and there was no further landsliding, the remaining portion of the Karakoram Highway would also be opened within next three to four days.

The Karakoram Highway was blocked at 50 points from Thakot to Jaglot and 200 Jawans of the Frontier Works Organization cleared the road at 28 points and opened it for traffic, by working day and night.

He said heavy machinery was being used for removing slides from the remaining portion of the Karakoram Highway.

More than 300 passengers marooned between Pattan and Besham, he further said, had been evacuated by the Frontier Works Organization.

Women, children and weak and old people were lifted by the Frontier Works Organization helicopters, he added.

About 400 people, he went on to say, were still stranded in Tatta Pani and Rai Kot and most of them were kept in the FWO and other army camps where they were being provided all facilities.

Meanwhile, the passengers returning from the Northern Areas said dozens of trucks, oil tankers and other vehicles were still stranded on the Karakoram Highway in around 120km area from Thakot to Barsin.

They said the owners of the roadside hotels had started fleecing the passengers and if the KKH did not open immediately for traffic, there would be a scarcity of edibles and other commodities of daily use in the area.