February 19, 2007	Monday	Safar 1, 1428

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PESHAWAR, Feb 18: Upper parts of the NWFP and adjoining tribal areas received heavy snowfall on Sunday, causing power breakdowns as weather pundits forecast rains in the plains.

Met officials said that high altitude areas like Kalam, Mala Jaba in Swat district, Galyat in Abbottabad district and upper parts of Mansehra, Kurram, North Waziristan and Bajaur agencies received several feet of snow, badly hitting the mobility of the local population and knocking out electricity and telephone networks in many areas.

Reports said that Malam Jaba, one of the main tourist attractions in the region, had received six feet of snow during the past 12 hours and it was still snowing till the filing of this report.

Similarly, Kalam received heavy snow, cutting off the area from other parts of the Swat district. Parts of Galyat also received light snow while rain was also received in low altitude areas of Abbottabad district.

The Bajaur Agency, where rains played havoc last week, received snow on Saturday night. Vehicular traffic between Pakistan and Afghanistan was suspended via Ghakhi and Nawa Pass routes due to inclement weather.

Razmak area of the North Waziristan Agency was the worst hit where heavy snowfall damaged a high-power transmission line in Dangeen area, disconnecting electricity supply to several parts of the North and South Waziristan agencies.

A telephone exchange was submerged by rain water in Data Khel, North Waziristan.

Severe cold weather gripped Parachinar, the Kurram Agency’s headquarters, after heavy snow covered peaks including Spin Ghar (White Mountain) in the valley.

Local Met office said that the city had received 1.3 millimetre of rain since Sunday morning.