MINGORA: The weather turned chilly after fresh snowfall and rain in Malakand division, including the Swat valley on Monday.

The snowfall on hilly areas like Malam Jabba, Miandam, Bahrain, Mankyal Kalam, Utror, Ushu and rain in plains in Swat dropped the mercury to minus one, district Met department said. It forecast more showers in plains and snow on mountains on Monday night.

ALPURI: The district administration imposed ban on movement of vehicles without chains around tyres on Shangla Top, Yakh Tangi Top and Kandaw Sar due to heavy snowfall and rain in Shangla district.

Meanwhile, shortage of firewood was reported in the district headquarters Alpuri, Lewanai, and other hilly areas.

TIMERGARA: Rain in plains and snowfall on hilltops multiplied miseries of earthquake-affected people in Lower Dir district.

The rain began on Sunday night and continued till this report was filed on Monday night. Several families affected by the Oct 26 earthquake are still residing either in tents or hujras of their relatives in Samar Bagh, Maidan and Toormand areas. In the snow-bound hilly areas temperatures plunged to minus 5 degree Celsius. People of Samar Bagh, Khall, Maidan and Adenzai remained indoors due to intermittent rain and snowfall. The chilly weather has caused hike in the rates of firewood.

UPPER DIR: The rain and snowfall, which started lashing the district on Sunday night, continued till Monday night, forcing the people to remain indoors. Dir town, Barawal, Sheringal, Kalkot, Thal, Komrat received rain, while Lowari Top, Nehar Gah, Kohistan and Brawal received snowfall.

According to district met office 20mm rain has so far been recorded in Dir city.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2016