Cold wave rules KP, Fata: Snow, landslides block roads in Kaghan valley

PESHAWAR: A cold wave returned as rain and snowfall lashed parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the adjoining Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) on Saturday as more sporadic rain is expected during the next 24 hours.

In the provincial capital, the residents were jubilant at the fresh spell of rain as the temperature had soared during the last one week in the plain areas of the Peshawar Division.

The recent rainfall occurred due to a westerly wave, which is still affecting upper parts of the country and is likely to persist during the next 24 hours.

According to the regional office of the Met Department, the weather remained cloudy in most parts of the region and 6 millimeter rain was recorded in Bannu and Parachinar, Cherat and Kohat each received 5mm, Peshawar 4mm, Risalpur and Malam Jabba, 3mm each, Saidu Sharif and Dera Ismail Khan, 2mm, Timergara and Kalam received one millimeter rain each.

Mainly partly cloudy weather is expected in most parts of the region today.

However rain-thunderstorm with gusty winds and light snowfall over the hills is expected at scattered places in Chitral, Upper Dir, Swat, Shangla, Malakand, Buner, Lower Dir, Abbottabad, Battagram, Mansehra, Kohistan, Haripur, Torghar, Mardan, Swabi, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Kohat, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan and Tank districts.

The isolated places in tribal agencies including Khyber, Bajaur, Mohmand, Kurram, Orakzai, North and South Waziristan agencies are expected to receive downpour.

MANSEHRA: The upper parts of Hazara on Saturday received rain and snowfall, making the atmosphere chilly cold in the division.

The roads leading to Kaghan, Konsh and Siran valleys were blocked because of snow and landslide.

The electricity and telephone system has also been disrupted in Kaghan valley.

MINGORA: The plain and mountainous areas received rain and snowfall in the district, increasing the cold manifold.

The rain started early in the day and continued the whole day, forcing the dwellers of mountainous areas to remain indoors.

DIR: The plain areas received rain while snowfall lashed Lowari top on Saturday.