The new year was set to begin with snow and rain for millions left homeless by the South Asian quake, Pakistan's meteorological department said yesterday, as the long-feared Himalayan winter threatened to hinder relief operations.

Using helicopters, roads and mule tracks, aid workers helped by Pakistan's army have been delivering tents, clothes, food and other provisions to survivors since the October 8 quake killed an estimated 87,000 people and destroyed the homes of 3.5 million others.

Officials say they have provided basic facilities to people living in donated tents and damaged homes, but aid agencies have warned that the brutal winter could hamper aid deliveries and create conditions ripe for illnesses.

A cold wave followed by rain was expected to hit the Pakistan-administered part of Kashmir and other quake-hit areas early today, with heavy snow to follow a day later, the Meteorological Department said.

In Pakistani Kashmir's Muzaffarabad, near the centre of the magnitude-7.6 quake, officials said they could fly helicopters despite the weather.

"We are prepared to face heavy rains and snow, and we will continue (relief) operations even during the harsh winter," said Pakistan army spokesman Maj Farooq Nasir.

He said army engineers would keep roads open.

Some snow fell on mountaintops above 2,100 metres in Kashmir and northwestern Pakistan weeks ago, but it did not block relief work.

The UN estimates that 2.5m people are living in tents below 1,500 metres, while 350,000-400,000 others are in higher areas - where snow and rain may make it harder for helicopters and trucks to reach them.

Yesterday, an eight-member US congressional delegation headed by Nevada Republican Jon Porter visited Muzaffarabad, meeting survivors and doctors at a US Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, or MASH.

US military units are part of an international humanitarian relief operation.

Porter said that delegation members were saddened by seeing the destruction, and assured their continued support to Pakistan in its efforts to get aid to survivors.

A quarter-million doses of flu vaccine that were bought overseas but could not be imported will be donated to earthquake victims in Pakistan, Illinois Gov Rod Blagojevich said.

PHOTO CAPTION

An earthquake survivor stands in the devastated village of Pieer Chanasi, some 25 km (15.6 miles) east of Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in this December 8, 2005 file photo. (Reuters)