Skardu, April 9: Heavy snowfall and rains hit Skardu and other parts of the Northern Areas on Sunday, causing avalanches and landslides and disrupting road and air traffic. Skardu received six inches of snow while hilly areas around it received over 10 inches, Met office sources said.

The snowfall that continued for five hours caused an avalanche, hitting a house in the city and injuring a woman. Reports of avalanches and landslides were also received from other areas. A tourist was reportedly injured in the Rondu area but it could not be officially confirmed.

The Karakoram Highway has been reportedly blocked at various points between Dasu and Pattan in the Kohistan District.

PIA flights to Skardu have been suspended for the past two days. People are facing serious problems because of a shortage of essentail items and fuel.

APP adds: Heavy snowfall on mountains and rains in Chilas, Gilgit, Astore, Ghizer, upper Hunza and Nagar and elsewhere in the Northern Areas was reported during the past 15 hours.