Snowfall: Naran-Balakot road opens

NDMA has also made special arrangements to evacuate the stranded tourists and other people in Kaghan and Naraan.

More than 200 army troops including engineers, doctors and rescue teams are carrying out rescue operation in Naran.

Talking exclusively to Dunya News, Amir Aafaq said that the army helicopter service has been sought to evacuate the tourists, adding that if weather conditions are favourable then the evacuation will began at noon on Monday.

Meanwhile, at least 15 injured mine workers of Sunday’s avalanche tragedy in Behsar are still stuck at a police post in Behsar as heavy snowfall has cut off the link road leading to Naran. Assistant Commissioner of Balakot, Roman Burrana, told The Express Tribune that the road link to the affected area has been established. Route from Bhatta Kunddi to Naran and one-way route of Naran-Kaghan road has been cleared.

Dozens of tourist jeeps were seen truck on roads in Bharwai area.

Officials said the earliest snowfall in 40 years blocked a main highway in Mansehra district, dumping three feet of snow on Naran town in less than 24 hours.

People were enjoying weekend in the scenic valleys when they were caught off guard by the unprecedented snowfall.

One miner died after a glacier break-off in Kaghan Valley of Mansehra district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and buried at least ten miners on Sunday, Mansehra district police officer (DPO) Najeebur Rehman said. Authorities rescued 15 other coal miners trapped by the collapse, the DPO Mansehra said.

The snowfall has also damaged the power lines and a few small bridges.

Earlier, the federal government offered its assistance to the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa to ensure rescue of the stranded tourists. “The prime minister is personally overseeing the situation”, Radio Pakistan quoted a government spokesperson as saying.

Meanwhile, heavy snowfall is continuing in Kaghan and Naran area.

The National Highway Authority (NHA) has already started clearing roads of the snow.