MINGORA: Tourists are struggling to reach Malam Jabba and Maindam in Swat district, as most roads leading to these hilly areas are closed due to heavy snowfall.

Around five feet snow fell in Kalam valley during the last two days.

Rehmat Din Siddique, general secretary of Kalam Hotel Association, said Kalam Bazaar and the adjoining areas had received five feet snow and upper hilly areas of the valley around 10 feet snow.

He said Mataltan, Osho, Gabral and other upper parts of the valley had been cut off from Kalam.

`Local residents are facing severe trouble as they are restricted in their homes due to heavy snowfall` he added.

Mr Siddique said the Pakistan Army was working to connect Kalam valley from the rest of district Swat, adding that the Pakistan Army`s bulldozers were busy removing snow from roads.

Fazal Ghani, owner of a Miandam hotel, said the tourist destination had received 2.5 feet snow during last few days.

He said snowfall coupled with severe cold had forced the people to stay indoors.

Mr Ghani said tourists were struggling to reach Maindam due to closure of the main road.

`People want to come here to enjoy snowfall but they can`t do so until roads are cleared of snow,` he added.

According to the Met Office, the valley received 11 feet snow and Malam Jabba 10 inches snow during the last 24 hours.

It forecast the spell of snowfall and widespread rain will continue today (Thursday).

Due to fresh snowfall in Malam Jabba and its adjoining areas, the road to the sky resort is closed to the traffic.

As a result, tourists on Wednesday enjoyed snowfall near Kishawra, which is 20 kilometers from Malam Jabba.

Sania, 22, said she had come to the area for the first time along with family from Karachi to enjoy snowfall.

She said Swat was so beautiful that it was no less than heaven and that people should come here to enjoy natural beauty and snowfall.

Naveed, another tourist, said the valley was very beautiful and it looke d more beautiful during snowfall.

He said the government should take steps for the timely removal of snow from roads so that tourists could reach Malam Jabba and other hilly areas without difficulty.

GIRL DIES IN ROOF COLLAPSE: A 13-year-old girl died and six people injured after the roof of a house collapsed due to heavy rain in Fizzagat area of Swat district on Wednesday.

Local police said the injured were shifted to the Saidu Sharif Hospital, where necessary treatment was given to them.