10 February 2004	Tuesday	18 Zilhaj 1424

LANDI KOTAL, Feb 9: Landi Kotal and its adjoining areas received on Monday first snowfall of the winter season, while other parts of the Khyber Agency received widespread rains.

No official record was available about the size of rain which started on Sunday evening and continued till early Monday. The snowfall started at around 10am on Sunday and soon enveloped all the hilltops surrounding the Landi Kotal town. It continued till late Sunday evening.

The last time Landi Kotal received snowfall was on Feb 7, 2002. People of the area had been facing acute water shortage for the last three years due to less rainfall. Experts say Sunday's rainfall would help raise the subsoil water level in the area.

Heavy snowfall was also reported from the remote Tirah valley. Tirah hills received first snowfall during the last week of January. Reports of rain were also received from Jamrud and Bara sub divisions of the Khyber Agency. No loss of human life or damage to property was reported till the filing of this report.

Heavy rains, however, affected the holding of free medical camps in the Bazaar, Brag and Karamna areas of Landi Kotal. Khyber Agency Surgeon Dr Azeem had announced on Saturday that his department would organize 45 free medical camps in the far-flung areas of Khyber Agency on Feb 9.