Mercury plummets as rain, snowfall descend on KP, Fata

PESHAWAR: The rain coupled with snowfall brought down mercury and broke the long dry spell in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and adjoining tribal areas.

The Peshawarites heaved a sigh of relief as the fresh spell settled the dust along the under-construction corridor of the Peshawar Rapid Bus (BRT) in the provincial metropolis.As reported by the regional office of the Met Department, Peshawar on Monday received an intermittent rain of around 14 millimeter (mm). It continued to rain till the filing of this report.

The residents of the city, those travelling in own vehicles and public transport or those on foot faced nuisance due to the mud along the dug-outs on both sides of the BRT corridor. In some places, the motorists faced long traffic jams, particularly during the peak hours in the city.

The provincial capital received rain throughout the day. It started at midnight and continued throughout the day, compelling the people to remain indoors. Those, who had to venture out to do the daily chores, had to brave the rain and the cold wave that gripped the city and its suburbs.

The worst sufferers were the motorcyclists as many were seen wheeling their bikes that had broken down due to the rain. Some were seen using sheets of polythene and wearing plastic raincoats to protect themselves from the continuous rain.

Pakistan Met Department communicated had on Saturday that westerly wave was likely to enter western parts of the country and likely to grip upper/central parts of the country on Sunday and likely to persist over Malakand intermittently for few days.

Under the influence of this weather system rain-thunderstorm (with snowfall over the hills) of light to moderate intensity is expected at scattered places in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and snowfall is also expected in Malakand and Hazara divisions on Sunday and Monday.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) had already informed all deputy commissioner of the situation to take precautionary measures particularly in the snow bound areas.

The PDMA press release said the authority was in contact with all district administrations for further coordination and provision of further possible assistance if any.The Met Department said that the westerly wave persisted in upper parts of the province on Monday and during the next 24 hours rain-thunderstorm, with snowfall over the hills and associated with gusty winds were expected at scattered places in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

On Monday rain-thunderstorm, with snowfall over the hills, occurred at scattered places in upper parts of province. Malam Jabba received rain of 23mm, Bannu 19mm, Dir 14mm, Dera Ismail Khan 11mm, Kohat 10mm, Cherat, Lower Dir, and Mirkhani 8mm each, Saidu Sharif received 7mm, Pattan 6mm, Kalam 4mm, Drosh and Balakot 3mm, Chitral 2mm and Kakul 1mm.

Similarly, Malam Jabba received 11inch snow where temperature fell to 03°C, and Kalam got 2 inches snow.The rain and thunderstorm with snowfall over the hills is expected on Tuesday (today) at scattered places in Malakand, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Chitral, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Battagram, Haripur, Kohistan, Torghar, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Kohat, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan and Tank districts. Rain and thunderstorm with snowfall over the hills is expected and in tribal belt’s areas Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, North and South Waziristan and Kurram agencies.

MANSEHRA: The upper parts of Hazara division received rain and snowfall throughout the entire day.The rain that brought an end to prolonged dry spell in Mansehra, Torghar and upper and Lower Kohistan district started in the morning and continued intermittently throughout the day.

The hilly and mountainous parts of division also received heavy snowfall that caused severe cold in recent weeks.Kaghan and Shogran also received heavy snowfall that caused blockade of Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad road.

Various links roads leading to Shogran and other parts of district were also blocked because of the snowfall and land-sliding.The rainwater flooded roads including Karakoram Highway in city, inconvenience motorists and passerby.

NATHIAGALI: The upper parts of Galiyat received one of the heaviest snowfalls in recent years. The main road was closed near Battangi seven kilometres short of Nathiagali from Abbottabad side. It was reported that the link roads were closed.

The alleged lethargic approach by the Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority (PKHA) to clear the roads added to the miseries of the local people and tourists.The power supply was suspended for the past 12 hours and telephone landlines were damaged due to heavy snow.

According to the local people, the snow started falling around midnight.More than 30 inches of snow fell in Nathiagali, Ayubia, Dunga Gali and other parts of Galiyat.

MINGORA: The mercury dropped below freezing point in upper parts of Swat district.The rain and snowfall started in the Malakand division early morning that lowered the temperature in Swat, Chitral, Lower Dir and Upper Dir districts.The upper parts of Swat district, including Kalam, Mataltan, Madyan, Bahrain, Malam Jabba received snowfall.

DIR: Citizen as well tourists enjoyed snowfall in Dir city that received first snowfall in three years. The mountainous areas including Lowari Top, Kumrat, Doog Dara and others areas received snowfall for the third consecutive day.

The snow fell on the Lowari Top, Kumrat, Thal, Doog Dara, Barawal, Qulandi and others adjoining places. The Lowari Top received four to five feet of snowfall while Kumrat, Thal, Kalkot, Doog Dara, Barawal and other areas received two feet snowfall.

It was learnt that the Dir-Lowari Tunnel road remained closed to traffic as avalanches hit Maina Khwar area near the Lowari Tunnel.

Sources said that one passenger vehicle narrowly escaped an avalanche near Lowari Tunnel.Similarly, many links roads in remote areas of the district including Doog Dara, Upper Kohistan, Gawadi, Upper Barawal and others remained closed to traffic due heavy snowfall.

A vehicle fell into ravine in Malook Khwar in Doog Dara. The driver of the vehicle sustained injuries and he was shifted to Peshawar in critical condition. The power supply in Doog Dara, Sheringal, Kohistan, Barawal and other areas was suspended due to receiving heavy snowfall.