Heavy snowfall: Thousands of tourists trapped in Kaghan Valley

Thousands of tourists including women and children, traders and local people have been trapped in Kaghan valley due to closure of Naran-Balakot road after heavy snowfall and landslides at various locations on Saturday and Sunday.
Foreign and local tourists in thousands had gone to the scenic Naran valley to spend the holidays but they were trapped after snowfall of several feet and landslides at a number of locations on road leading to Balakot.
Reports said that over 1000 vehicles were trapped at various places. The stranded people had to suffer due to shortage of food, intense cold weather and lack of space to spend night.
National Highway Authorities (NHA) though reacted promptly and sent heavy machinery to clear the road but it was a difficult task as the landslides occurred at dozen of places making it difficult for the NHA to clear the road and rescue the stranded people. In addition the continuous snow fall is making the job even more difficult and demanding.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mansehra told media that he has requested the provincial government for providing helicopter to airlift the stranded tourists.
Assistant Commissioner (AC) Balakot said that district administration was monitoring the situation and all resources and efforts were being utilized to rescue and facilitate the stranded people.
Reports said that the Prime Minister has asked the Federal Interior Secretary to contact the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister and offer any assistance that was needed to evacuate the stranded tourists. The Interior Secretary also spoke to the Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and offered Federal government's assistance.
A tourist from Karachi Zulfiqar Qureshi told INP over the mobile phone that hotel owners of the Naran and Kaghan taking the advantage of the situation have increased the fares and almost three to four times charges were being received. The stranded people have to pay Rs10,000 to Rs15,000 for single room per night which in routine was available at only Rs3000 to Rs5000. The stranded tourists demanded of the provincial government for taking notice of the situation, solid measures to facilitate them and clearing the road link so they that they could return back to their homes.