K-P govt releases funds to keep tourist lines clear ahead of snow forecast

More snowfall expected in coming week, tourists asked to come equipped with tyre chains

ABBOTTABAD: With a forecast of more snow to come in the next 24 hours, the 10th spell of the current season dumped fresh snow on Galiyat on Tuesday.

Owing to record snowfall this year there has been an overwhelming flow of tourists to the hill stations for enjoying the wonderful weather.

To keep the tourist traffic flowing, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has released additional funds on Tuesday to reinforce the ongoing snow removing operation in Galiyaat areas of Abbottabad district, said K-P Minister for Communication and Works Akbar Ayub Khan.

He directed initiating a special 24/7 operation for speedy removal of snow from the main and link roads of Galiyaat as, he said, the Chief Minister Mahmood Khan had assured to make the required financial resources available for opening the affected roads.

Chairing a meeting at Nathia Gali on Tuesday, he asked the authorities to consider the heavy snowfall this season as an emergency and procure new snow ploughs. “Until that time,” Ayub told the authorities, “acquire the required machinery on rent to ensure speedy removal of snow.”

The meeting was attended by the MPAs Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha, Muhammad Nazir Abbasi, District Nazim Col (retd) Shabbir Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner Amir Afaq and officers of Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority (PKHA), Communication and Works Department, Galiyaat Development Authority and the Tehsil Municipal Administration. They discussed ways and means to clean the roads of snow and facilitate the local population as well as tourists.

Assigning the task of opening all the link roads to C&W, GDA, TMA, and the District Council, the provincial minster said PKHA would be responsible to keep the main Abbottabad-Nathia Gali-Barian Road open for traffic. He also directed PKHA to ensure removal of snow from all bazaars of Galiyaat including that of Nathi Gali to ensure smooth flow of traffic. Emphasising the need for informing tourists to avoid traveling to the snowy areas in dangerous weather, he asked the authorities to ensure all possible measures including salting to dilute slippery remains of snow on the roads.

DC Amir Afaq said that more snowfall was expected this week and the next. He assured of all possible help and support to concerned departments and authorities which were striving to mitigate sufferings of the snow-affected people.

The MPAs appreciated the C&W, PKHA and GDA efforts for removing snow during the current season and also identified certain link roads which were closed by heavy snow and need early rehabilitation.

Facilitating tourists

GDA Director General Raza Ali Habib was on the ground at the snow-blocked roads inquiring about the well-being of the rescue officials deployed to guide and assists tourists coming to the mountains to enjoy snowfall.

Habib took a round of Nathia Gali, Donga Gali, Ayubia and met field staff performing responsibilities in freezing temperatures.

The GDA director general had formed a rescue and facilitation crew under the supervision of Emergency Officer Rescue 1122 Hafeezur Rehman giving them the responsibility of deploying their personnel on short distances between Nathia Gali and Kundla to help and guide drivers and travelers so that they don’t face any problem during their journey in the snow.

“We are here to serve humanity. We put in our best effort to carry out our responsibility. We need to be courteous with the tourists coming to Galiyat to experience snow and guide in safety for driving in snow,” the director general stated.

Deputy Commissioner Amir Afaq in his message for tourists advised them to bring chains for tying on their wheels for better traction on snowy roads.

“There may be an outstanding risk of a vehicle sliding off the roads, consequently tourists coming without chains on tires is like inviting trouble. They must strictly chain their automobile tires,” he said.

The tourists were also advised to carry a good stock of water, biscuits, and dry fruit with them in case they get stuck for hours on the snow-blocked road. They have been asked to drive carefully on slow speed, keep a safe distance from other vehicles, avoid repeated use of brakes and contact GDA help desk in case of an emergency, said the advisory.

Record snow season

A record-breaking snowfall and rainfall has been witnessed in Malakand and Hazara divisions, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu, and Kashmir and Murree, said a senior weatherman of the country.

Approximately 22.5 inches snowfall had been recorded so far since December in these areas and it may increase up to 50 inches by March-end, said Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) National Weather Forecasting Centre Islamabad Director Khalid Malik on Tuesday.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2019.