As weather clears, residents start coping with snow

All roads expect the main artery in the Chitral town were closed for vehicular traffic while the local municipal corporation was busy clearing the roads inside and out of the main town. Rescue efforts by local people continued in the avalanche-hit Shershal village of Karimabad valley, where 14 bodies have been retrieved. In the Camel area of lower Chitral, one Chitral Scouts personnel died and two others were injured when an avalanche hit their post along the Afghan border.

Traffic on the main Chitral-Mastuj, Garam Chashma and Kalash valley roads is also suspended. On the other hand, Chiral’s link with other pats of the country is also blocked. People of upper Chitral said they were even unable to move within their villages due to the waste-deep snow.

They said there was no water and electricity as the water and power supply lines had been frozen or damaged. The power supply to the Brep, Dizg, Marting and Istach villages was also suspended after electricity poles from the two Grovur powerhouses were damaged by the snow.

Booni town was also without electricity as the heavy snow damaged supply lines after which the generators were not operated to light up the area. Yousuf Hayat, a resident of Booni, said mobility was restricted in the town which received about three feet of snow. He said it was even impossible for the residents to move within the town on foot.