Abbottabad-Murree road unusable due to heavy snow

All link roads closed as weather paralyses life in Galiyat

ABBOTTABAD: The Abbottabad-Murree Road remained slippery and unusable for motorists for the second consecutive day as snowfall continued in the area. Owing to the inclement weather conditions, the GDA has cautioned tourists to avoid unnecessary travel to Galiyat as the fog has considerably reduced visibility.

Life has become paralysed in Galiyat in the aftermath of heavy snowfall on Wednesday.

The main artery of the Abbottabad-Murree road has become unusable as the road has become slippery, forcing motorists to either use tyre chains or stay indoors.

Police and locals said the main road leading to Nathiagali was blocked on Tuesday evening and only opened for a little while on Wednesday.

Snow ploughs have cleared a strip of road, but the fresh snow has turned the remaining sludge into ice, making travel risky, police told.

Meanwhile, GDA Spokesperson Ahsan Hameed told The Express Tribune that the snow ploughs of GDA and K-P Highway were busy clearing the road, but with non-stop snowfall, the road had become slippery and only motorists using tyre chains should venture out.

However, he advised tourists to avoid unnecessary travel as dense fog from the early morning had considerably reduced visibility on the road.

He advised tourists to wait until Thursday afternoon when the fog and roads are expected to clear. “If coming to Galiyat is necessary the travellers must take good care of fuel, battery and chain”, he added.

Meanwhile, local residents said that almost all the link roads in Galiyat valley were closed for the fourth straight day.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2017.