Pakistani troops have laid a small foot-bridge over the fast-flowing Kishen Ganga River that would be used to carry relief supplies to the tens of thousands left stricken by last month's massive temblor.

"Despite heavy overnight rain in the plains and snow in mountains in this area the exchange of relief aid will take place as per schedule," the police chief of north Kashmir, Abdul Subhan Lone, told AFP in Tithwal.

"All the arrangements have been made and the exchange will take place around noon," he said.

The two nuclear-armed rivals opened the first crossing along the Line of Control -- the de facto border that divides Kashmir between them -- on November 7 in southern Poonch district, followed November 9 by another in the northern Uri sector.

Next week two more openings are slated for relief supplies to cross the border.

The move to open the ceasefire line after a gap of almost 60 years has been hailed as a major confidence building measure between the two countries, who have fought two of their three wars over the Himalayan region.

The massive October 8 earthquake left more than 73,000 people dead in Pakistan and its part of Kashmir leaving millions homeless. Another 1,300 people died in Indian Kashmir and 150,000 were left homeless.

Most of the homeless are living in tents and temporary sheds made of plastic, tin and wood.

Providing relief supplies and shelter has gained added urgency as temperatures plummet in the region and freezing rain and snow blanket the area, raising concerns that the main road to Tithwal could become blocked.

"This road is our lifeline. One heavy snowfall closes it for two to four months," said Khalid Mehmood, a school-teacher in Tangdar, 160 kilometersmiles) north of the summer capital Srinagar.

Residents along with the army and state government are trying to build stocks of food and other supplies for the winter months, but say it is a race against time.

"This year winter stocking has not been completed so far due to earthquake," Mehmood said.

Reporters witnessed heavy snowfall at 10,000 feet high Sadna Pass, the highest point on Srinagar-Tithwal road, an ominous sign for survivors living in flimsy tents.

"It is very cold in these tents and as weather worsens it will become more and more difficult for us to survive in tents. We want cold-proof structures," said Shafiq Ahmed, a bakery-owner.

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