Snowfall brings down mercury in Abbottabad, Upper Dir

ABBOTTABAD/DIR: Nathiagali and adjoining areas of Galiyat, including Bara Gali, Khanispur, Ayubia, Dunga Gali and Changla Gali, received heavy snowfall on Tuesday. The entire Abbottabad district received rainfall that brought the mercury down.

Most of roads in Galiyat remained closed due to heavy snowfall that paralysed routine life. The main road leading to Murree also remained blocked for hours. Ayubia, Changla Gali, Kalabagh and Thandiyani also received snowfall. Nathiagali received more than 8 inches snow, official said. Abbottabad Deputy Commissioner Aurangzeb Haider said they had sent two snow removing machines to Galiyat for clearing the main road. He said the Provincial Highway Authority was responsible for clearance of main Nathiagali Road. Electricity poles were damaged that caused electricity breakdown in some areas in the city for more than 10 hours.

The gas supply to residential area remained suspended. The gas supply to the CNG stations also remained suspended that inconvenienced the transporters and commuters alike. Our correspondent adds from Upper Dir: The temperature turned chillier as the mountainous areas in Upper Dir received the first snowfall of the winter. The rain, which had started in plain areas on Monday, also continued on second consecutive day. The Lowari Top, Kumrat, Thal, Kalkot, Doog Darra, Qulandi, Brawal and other areas received heavy snowfall. The Lowari Top received up to three feet of snowfall. The rains and snowfall affected routine life as the temperature turned chillier and attendance of the students in schools remained thin due to the cold wave. The attendance of government employees in offices also remained low while the bazaars also wore a deserted look. The Met Department predicted more rain and snowfall on mountains in the district for the next two days.