SKARDU Heavy snowfall and severe cold wave have gripped the entire Gilgit-Baltistan region, causing hardships to the people of the area.

The fresh snowfall that started on Saturday morning continued throughout the day without any break and paralysed the routine life and disrupted traffic and communication between Skardu and other parts of the region.

Reports gathered from Gilgit said the road connecting Gilgit to Ghizer and Astor has also been blocked following the land sliding.The Karakuram Highway is also reported to have been blocked for general traffic due to land slide in Kohistan area.

In the Baltistan region, Gulatary valley is cut off from the rest of the region for the last one month because of heavy snow fall and the people of this area are facing shortage of food, medicines and other essential items.

The continual snowfall has also forced the people of Shagharthang valley to confine to their homes. According to the villagers, so far the area has received seven feet of snow.

The other day, 11 persons from Shagharthang managed to reach Skardu in search of food and medicines. Talking to this scribe, they said about 1,500 people had been stranded there.

The road connection to the area has also been disrupted. “We have reached here after walking for nine hours, while it normally takes three hours,” they maintained.

It has also been learnt that traffic from Braldo and Basho in Shigar valley and Shila, Dooru and Sadpara villages to Skardu has also been suspended followed by snowfall and land sliding.

In Roundu valley, the dwellers of Triko are taking refuge on the bank of Indus river due to threat of land slide in the area. According to reports, the district administration has so far provided only tents to them and they are short of essential food items.

It has become difficult for these people to live in these tents as there are no heating arrangements in them. Children and aged people are developing diseases like cough and pneumonia.

In Kharmang valley, the mercury has dropped to minus 28 degree Celsius and the frozen Indus river can bee seen at eight different places, including Kraba Thang, Kharmang Khas, Baghicha and Rumbu Kha villages.

In the Baltoro region, the snowfall also created hurdles for the Broad Peak winter expedition. The team comprising two Polish and one Canadian was attempting to climb the peak for the last one month.

According to report received from Baltoro, the recent heavy snowfall forced the expedition team to descend down to the base camp.

In Ghizer district, about 34 people of Darkot village are yet stranded in upper mountain area Gai Kash for the last two weeks. The people of this area take their cattle in Gai Kash during summer season and return in winter but heavy snow blocked their way back.

The district administration did nothing to rescue to these stranded people. However, the army helicopters are dropping food and medicines for them.

PPI adds from Murree, the queen of hills, has been receiving snowfall with intervals due to which most of the roads linking the valley to other parts of the country have been closed.

According to Chief Traffic Officer  SSP Raja Riffat Muk, the traffic police had advised the commuters to use the highway to travel to Murree. The roads to Nathiagali have also been closed due to continual snowfall.

The SSP said the traffic plan chalked out because of snowfall and winter season was being implemented successfully in Murree.

He said during the heavy snowfall sometimes the expressway is closed to avert any untoward incident.

He said all other roads were clear and traffic was running smoothly. He said rescue squad was also present there to facilitate the visitors.

The SSP said wardens had been deputed at all points from tool plaza to Murree city to facilitate the visitors.