GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan received the first snowfall and rain of the winter season that ended a prolonged dry spell in the area and brought happiness and joy among farmers, but also caused some problems for locals because it blocked roads and highway at several points.
According to officials of the local administration, the snowfall blocked Karakoram Highway, Baltistan Road and connecting roads in remote and upper areas of Astore, Skardu, Shigar, Kharmang, Ghanche, Hunza, Nagar, Ghizer and Diamer districts while lower areas in Gilgit and Diamer received rain.
They said that connecting roads of upper areas of the region were blocked as heavy snowfall made these roads extremely slippery and people faced difficulties in approaching other areas. Up to six inches of snow fell in Astore, Skardu and Ghanche districts.
According to Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), the Karakoram Highway has been blocked at multiple locations in Dassu area of Kohistan and work to clear the road is under way.Thousands passengers travelling to and from Gilgit-Baltistan to other parts of areas were stranded as hundreds vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway.
The Gilgit-Diamer section of the Karakoram Highway has been opened for traffic while the snowfall has made the highway treacherous in the Gojal area near Khunjerab Pass.The FWO personnel used heavy machinery to remove snow from the highway and cleared it for traffic at some points. The Baltistan Road, blocked by heavy boulders, has been opened for traffic.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecasted heavy winds, thunderstorms and intermittent snowfalls across Gilgit-Baltistan from February 25 to March 2.Snow normally falls in the months of December and January in GB, but this year the area has received snowfall in the end of February.
Agriculture production of the area depends on melting of snow on glaciers which normally get plenty of snow in the months of December and January.The local administration has cautioned travelers and tourists visiting GB areas to avoid travelling to mountain areas unnecessary as there is possibility of landslides and avalanches.
Fresh spells of snowfall and rain in parts of Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan disrupted civic life as well as business activities with temperature in some areas falling to minus 14 degrees Celsius.There will be little chance of relief as both regions are also expected to receive snowfall and showers.
In upper areas of Gilgit-Baltistan, transportation was suspended as roads became slippery. Traffic on Astore Valley Road, Karakoram Highway’s Hunza Nagar section, and Ghizer-Gilgit Road remained suspended for many hours.
In Balochistan, the local administration and personnel of NHA and Levies were making all-out efforts to keep the traffic flow normal at the Quetta-Chaman Highway by continuously removing snow from the Khojak Top, but a large amount of snow kept creating hurdles in their work.
“We have cleared Quetta-Chaman-Kandahar Highway at Khojak Pass and traffic is continuing from Quetta to Kandahar,” NHA General Manager Agha Inayat Ullah claimed.
According to the GB administration, the upper areas of Ghizer district including Phander and Yasin, and upper areas of Astore, Hunza, Nagar, Ghanche, Shigar, Babusar Pass as well as some areas in Diamer received fresh spell of snowfall.
Many areas received up to six inches of snow, making the weather conditions even harsher.For people of Gilgit-Baltistan, it was not weather alone that had upset their scheduled engagements because a prolonged electricity outage had played havoc with their lives.
Locals said majority areas of Gilgit-Baltistan had been enduring 22 hours of power outage.In absence of electricity and issues of road communication, people in upper areas were also facing difficulties in accessing health facilities.
All trade activities, including tourism, remained shut as hotels and tourist venues were unable to function in absence of electricity.In a press release, the district administration said there was a possibility of landslides on the Astore Valley Road and advised passengers travelling to and from Astore to use safety chains on their vehicles tyres and avoid unnecessary travels through the road at night and during snowfall.
The district administration also said that people living in areas prone to snow avalanches should take precautionary measures to avoid any untoward incident.
