New spell of rain, snowfall started in Neelum Valley

MUZAFFARABAD (92 News) – A new spell of rain with snowfall over hills has been started in the Neelum Valley. According to the details garnered, the rescue and relief operations have been halted in the hills of snow-hit victims’ valley due to the bad weather. The troubles of victims are increasing due to bad weather. The sources said that the machinery, which clearing the route, cannot operate during the snow and rainy season. The route of upper hills and earth disconnected and could not be restored after a week till now. Thousands of persons from upper areas have been stranded on their homes in valley. The acute shortage of food can be faced in coming days. On the other hand, parts of Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and northeastern Balochistan have received rain and snowfall again today. The upper areas of Skardu have received five-inch snowfall, while Shawal, Dattakhel, Shangla, Buttgram, Galliyat and Thandiani have also received snowfall in a fresh wet spell. Pakistan Army troops have rescued 22 students of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) stranded in Gilgit region due to snowfall. Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has said that a westerly wave is affecting upper parts of the country and likely to persist during next 24 hours. Rain occurred at scattered places in districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan while at isolated places in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Lahore, D.G.Khan, Multan, Okara and Hafizabad. Snowfall also recorded in Malamjabba, Kalam, Dir, Skardu, Bagrote, Parachinar and Murree. Weather remained cold and partly cloudy in most parts of the country. Earlier, Neelum Valley will again receiving snowfall from January 20, said the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), AJK. 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.