Neelum Valley to again receive snowfall from Jan 20: SDMA

MUZAFFARBAD (92 News) – Neelum Valley will again receiving snowfall from January 20, said the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), AJK on Saturday. The authority has directed the people to move to safer places ahead of the new spell of snowfall. On the other hand, 13-year-old Samina who was injured by an avalanche succumbed to her wounds. The death toll due to rains and heavy snowfall had reached 79. In Astore, roads are closed after the snowfall for the last 10 days. Meanwhile, roads closed in Balochistan’s Muslim Bagh area could not be opened. Hundreds of vehicles are standing on the roads. On January 15, three villages were badly affected after another avalanche collapsed in the Neelum Valley. In the Sargan Valley, five more bodies were recovered. Several people went missing. Over 200 houses have been destroyed by the devastating rains across Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The Pak Army and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) are busy in the rescue activities. Heavy snowfall is continuing in Gilgit-Baltistan, Skardu, Astore, Upper Dir, Chilas, Abbottabad and adjoining areas. Locals have been restricted to their houses due to the rain and snowfall. Road links could not be restored so far. Skardu has so far received up to five-foot snow. Work is going on to remove snow at Skardu airport.