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PESHAWAR, Feb 7: Many parts of the NWFP and the Federally-Administrated Tribal Areas on Thursday received heavy snowfall and rain, breaking the prolonged dry spell.
Peshawar and its surrounding areas received intermittent rain, bringing the mercury down to 5 from Wednesday’s 10 degrees Celsius.
The light rain started early in the morning and continued with short intervals throughout the day.
According to the local Met office, the city had received 12mm rain till the filing of this report in the evening. It forecast more rain during the next 24 hours.
The surrounding hilly areas of the city, including Dara Adamkhel and Landi Kotal, received the first snowfall of the season.
The showers ended the prolonged dry spell in the Peshawar valley and brought about a pleasant change in the weather.
LANDI KOTAL: Snowfall began in Landi Kotal on Wednesday evening and continued till Thursday afternoon.
It snowed over the area after a lapse of three years, filling the locals with hopes that the snowfall would improve the water reservoir of the area.
DIR: Dir, Jandol, Maidan, Talash, Warai and Dir Kohistan also received snowfall.
For the first time, snow had fallen over Dir’s plain areas, including Timergarha, Chokiatar and Khan Rabat.
Heavy rain coupled with snowfall lashed the Bajaur Agency for more than 18 hours, disrupting life completely.
Three people were killed and five others wounded when the roofs of their houses collapsed in Ghakhi, Katkot, Mantro Jangal and Kaga villages of the Mamood areas.
Several houses in others areas were also damaged badly and scores of cattle-heads died.
The plain areas of Khaar, Inayat Kalli, Sadiqabad, Nawaikali and Lowaisam received snowfall for the first time.
Roads between Pakistan and Afghanistan via Nawapass and Ghakhipass were said by the locals to have been closed down as a result of the snowfall.
HANGU: The Hangu district and its adjoining Orakzai Agency also received snowfall, forcing the area people to stay indoors.
The arms manufacturing Darra Adamkhel town also received the first snowfall of the winter, while Swabi received the first winter rain.
ABBOTTABAD: Abbottabad city and Galyats received heavy snowfall on Thursday.
The snowfall began in Abbottabad city on Wednesday night and continued till 11am on Thursday with frequent intervals.
People were overjoyed to see the snow which broke the dry spell which continued for three years.
Thanidyani, Nathiagali, Changla Gali, Ayubia, Donga Gali received two to three feet snow. Main roads of Abbottabad to Thandiyani and Nathiagali were closed at different points while all vehicular traffic was closed from Kala Pani onward on Thandiyani road. All links road in Galyats were closed especially from Bagnother and Bara Gali.
CHITRAL: Sporadic snowfall continues in the entire Chitral valley for the last four days which has plunged the mercury level below zero.
The people have heaved a sigh of relief as the snowfall broke the dry spell continuing for the last three years. However, with the closure of the Lowari Top, the passengers are facing communication problems as the PIA flights have also been cancelled due to the inclement weather for the last four days.
Meanwhile, Chitral Scouts has also sealed the Arandu border disallowing the crossing of the border, which is used to enter into Afghanistan and travel to Peshawar.
KALASH: The minority member of District Council Chitral Bashara Khan has demanded of the government to pay due attention towards the welfare of Kalash community.
In a press statement issued here on Wednesday, he said thousands of tourists visit the Kalash valley every year, which brings foreign exchange to the government.
The minority member urged the government to announce a special development package for the valley so that the standard of life of the Kalash people could be improved.
MANSEHRA: Mansehra and the adjoining areas are in the grip of a severe cold wave with heavy rains and snowfall in the hilly areas continuing intermittently for the last 48 hours.
Due to lightening and thunderstorm, the roof of a house caved in on Wednesday in Mansehra town. Luckily, there was no loss of life or injury to anyone.
The rains this winter, which started in the form of a drizzle on Tuesday evening, continued for the third consecutive day on Thursday with heavy snowfall in the hilly areas.
The residents, affected by the long dry spell, though heaved a sigh of relief on the pleasant change. But the unprecedented chilly weather, not witnessed for the last about 15 years, has brought life almost to a standstill.
