By Zahiruddin
CHITRAL: Snow falling is continuing in the entire valley of Chitral for the last one day resulting in the closure of roads of Bumburate, Birir, Rumbur, Garam Chashma, Karimabad, Arkari, Torkhow, Laspur and Yarkhun for vehicular traffic.
Life came to standstill in Chitral city as the people confined themselves to their homes and the markets worse a deserted look as the shops were closed while a very small number of motor vehicles were seen on the roads covered with snow.
The local people said that it was a rare occasion after many decades that the entire valley stretching on about 400 kilometers from Arandu in the south to Baroghil in the north is receiving snow simultaneously.
Meanwhile, the executive engineer of Communication and works (C&W) Chitral, Maqbul-e-Azam told the local media here on Sunday that the roads passing through the hills will be re-opened for vehicular traffic once the snowfall comes to halt which was not possible due to the sustained threat of the falling of snow-avalanche and boulders.
He said that the sub-divisional officers of all the three C&W sub-divisions of Booni, Chitral and Drosh have been put at high alert along with their field staff and road machinery so that they could be mobilized to the spot readily and the duration of the closure of roads could be minimized.
He said that keeping in view the anticipated snow fall in the valley, the residents of the remote valleys have been issued with alerts and advice of not to travel during in these days while the roads of Garam Chashma and Bumburate have been declared to be hyper risk based on their topography.
The approach road of Lowari tunnel connecting Chitral district with the rest of the country remained opened for heavy vehicles till filing of this report while the sub-divisional police officer of Drosh Iqbal Karim said that it may be closed any time as the Lowari area is receiving heavy snow.
He said that tens of the police personnel rushed to the help of the vehicles to push them pass the approach road before entering the tunnel.
