ABBOTABAD: The latest spell of rain that started on Friday has severely affected life in the Hazara division.
Apart from further lowering the already-freezing temperatures of this northern region, the rains and snowfall have blocked several key roads.
A number of village link roads in the Kaghan and Konsh valleys of Mansehra district were blocked at various points due to landslides and snowfall.
The main Balakot-Kaghan road was blocked at Surmai due to a large landslide.
The village link roads in the Galiyat area of Abbottabad were been disrupted due to heavy snowfall while the main Abbottabad-Nathiagali road was blocked near Kala Bagh some 35 kilometres from Abbottabad city.
The disruption in communication, especially the village access roads, created numerous problems for the residents including shortage of commodities of daily use and fuel.
Attendance in the government offices remained very low on Saturday.
According to reports from various parts of the division, the hilly areas have so far received 10 to 18 inches of snow. The popular hill station Nathiagali received 12 inches of snow, according to a local hotelier.
Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted that the current spell of rain and snowfall will last until Wednesday.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 14th, 2011.
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