School girls return home during rain in Peshawar on Wednesday. — Photo by Abdul Majeed Goraya
School girls return home during rain in Peshawar on Wednesday. — Photo by Abdul Majeed Goraya

PESHAWAR: Heavy downpour coupled with thunderstorm lashed plains, including Peshawar, while it snowed in hilly areas of Malakand division on Wednesday.

According to the Met office, Peshawar received 10mm of rain, which considerably dropped temperature. While it was thickly cloudy early in the morning in the provincial capital, heavy rain accompanied by thunder started in the city and other surrounding areas after midday, which continued intermittently till late night.

The low-lying areas in the city came under water, creating problems for the inhabitants. The flow of traffic was disrupted on several roads inundated by rainwater at several points due to clogged sewerage lines.

The situation was particularly troubling at Lahori Gate, Nishtarabad, Gunj Gate, Gulbahar Chowk, Hashtnagri, Hayatabad and the roads under the Malik Saad Shaheed and Mufti Mahmood flyovers. The Sher Shah Suri Road was also inundated by rainwater creating problems for motorists.

As the downpour started at about 1pm, it troubled students reaching home. The dark clouds and heavy downpour worried the parents who waited eagerly outside their houses to collect their children from school buses. Several students were dropped home late as school vans and buses broke down on the inundated roads.

The problem was more pronounced on the Dalazak and Warsak roads where several school van drivers were seen requesting the fellow drivers to take their students.

UPPER DIR: Snowfall lashed parts of the district, including Dir town, Panakot, Lowari Top, Nehargah, Qulandi, Brawal, Komrat, Thal, Kalkot, Sheringal, and Doog Dara. The snowfall closed the Lowari Pass for traffic.

Electricity was also suspended to most of the snow-bound areas, including Dir town.

Local Met office said Dir received 30mm of rain plunging the mercury below zero degrees centigrade. Lowari Top, Komrat, Thal, Doog Dara received up to two feet of snow.

SHANGLA: Heavy snowfall blocked the Swat-Bisham road, while it continued to rain in plains throughout Wednesday, turning the weather cold. Power supply to Shangla and Bisham remained suspended.

According to the Met office, Yakhtangi, Speen Ghar, Gamtal and Kapar Banda areas received from two inches to three feet of snow.

Heavy downpour continued in Alpuri, Puran, Chakesar, Shapor, Karora, Dandai and Martung.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2016

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