UPPER DIR: Lowari tunnel would remain closed to traffic till Friday next due to the recent heavy snowfall and avalanches that affected road at several places, said officials.

The officials of National Highway Authority (NHA) informed the district administrations of Dir Upper and Chitral through a letter that vehicles would not be allowed to pass through Lowari tunnel on Wednesday, the alternate day fixed earlier instead of Tuesday for using the tunnel.

According to schedule, public transport vehicles are allowed to use Lowari tunnel on Fridays and Tuesdays. However, it is not possible to open the road to traffic due to heavy snowfall and avalanches that hit various places including Nehergah, Maina and other areas on Upper Dir side of the tunnel and Baradum on its Chitral side.

Upper Dir Deputy Commissioner Usman Mehsud and focal person of the district administration for Lowari tunnel, Faheedullah Khan, said that they had made arrangements for the scheduled days and the road leading to Lowari tunnel had been cleared on Dir side.

However, NHA sources said that a massive avalanche and landslide in Baradum on the main road, leading to Lowari tunnel, caused closure of the tunnel. They said that it might take some time to clear the road. `The Chitrali passengers and drivers could not use Lowari tunnel on Wednesday,` said sources.

The NHA officials said that February 10 was fixed for public transport to use Lowari tunnel.

`The Chitrali passengers as well as drivers are advised to pass through Lowari tunnel on the said day to avoid any kind of misery and difficulty,` they added.Correspondent