Snowfall, rain turn weather chilly

Chitral passengers
suffer as Lowari Top closed for traffic

DIR/CHITRAL: The Lowari top was closed for traffic after snowfall while the plain areas received heavy rain as weather became chilly on Friday.

The rain and snowfall continued on Friday with short intervals. Lowari top, Komrat, Thal, Doog Darra, Ganshal, Nusrat Dara, Shahi and other mountainous areas received up to one and a half feet snowfall.

According to the Met Office, Dir had received 30 millimeters of rain. Snowfall and rain disturbed routine life as markets and bazaars wore a deserted look and people were forced to stay indoors.

The Lowari top road has closed to traffic due to heavy snowfall. Many trucks and other heavy vehicles stranded into the way of Lowari top. 

The Upper Chitral also received heavy snowfall, closing various link roads. Heavy snowfall was reported from Tareech, Laspoor, Yarkhun, Oweer, Mahrp and Broghi. The central parts of the landlocked district also received rains.

Meanwhile, the Chitrali passengers waited for hours in the extreme chilly weather in Panakot for getting permission to go through into Lowari tunnel to Chitral.

Hundreds of vehicles stood near DC’s camp office in Panakot. Large queues of vehicles were also witnessed there. The passengers especially women complained that the district administration had stopped them without any reason.

They said that there were patients, women and children among the passengers. Another passenger claimed that he was traveling along with his family members and one of them was ill, but they were not allowed to reach nearby hotel.

The Chitrali passengers asked the government to regularise timing of passage through Lowari tunnel as well increase passage of days to four from two to provide them relief. Tuesday and Friday have been fixed for vehicles to use Lowari tunnel for traffic to go to Chitral in the winter when Lowari top road is closed to traffic.

Also, the snowfall and rains have disrupted power supply from the national grid.Swat and Shangla also received heavy rains, which brought the mercury down.Kalam, Malam Jabba, Madyan and other areas received snowfall and the snow-capped peaks mountains gave a beautiful look.