PESHAWAR: Light rain and scattered snowfall ended the three months long dry spell in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and adjoining tribal areas on Tuesday with severe cold gripping hilly areas.

The Met Office in Peshawar forecast light rains in southern region and moderate rains and snow in central and northern parts of the province during the next 24 hours.

The mercury dipped below zero in hilly areas of the province and Fata. Lowest temperature was recorded in Parachinar, the administrative headquarters of Kurram Agency where mercury went down to minus four Degree Celsius. Temperature in Malam Jaba (Swat) and Chitral was minus two degree and minus one degree was recorded in Kalam.

High altitude area of Malakand and Hazara Divisions received moderate snow while light rain was recorded in Peshawar Valley and southern districts. Rain started in Peshawar in the wee hours of Tuesday and 2 millimeter rain was recorded.

According to the Met Office, three millimeters rain was recorded in Chitral, 4mm in Dir, 5mm in Mirkani, 2mm in Kalam and 3mm in Malam Jaba. Prolonged dry spell in the region especially in urban areas increased dust particles in the air which casued chest problems, throat congestion and other diseases.

Snow and rain started in Shangla on Tuesday morning which continued till filling of this report. People came to Shangla Top to enjoy first snowfall of the season. Cold weather disrupted routine life.

Mountainous areas including Lowari Top, Kumrat, Thal, Kalkot, Doog Dara and others in Upper Dir district on Tuesday received heavy snowfall while the Plain areas received rain after which weather has become chilly.

The snowfall in Lowari Top and other areas started on the night between Monday and Tuesday and continued all the day on Tuesday.

Picturesque Kumrat Valley also received heavy amount of snow. Due to heavy snowfall the Lowari top road was closed to traffic owing due to which dozens of passenger’s vehicles have stranded in Panakot. They were waiting of granting permission to go to Chitral via Lowari tunnel.

The district administration of the Upper Dir had established a tent village, a dispensary and other arrangements for passengers in Panakot. Passengers from Chitral blocked Dir-Chitral road for traffic demanding the authorities to open the under construction tunnel to proceed to their homes.

The local transporters clashed with the protesters when they (Chitralis) also blocked link roads and denied them providing passage. Protesting passengers started smashing vehicles with heavy batons and pelted stones which caused damages to the vehicles.

Patrolling police and levies personnel opened aerial firing to disperse passengers and locals and locals. Officials contacted National Highway Authority’s officials and allowed vehicles to proceed to Chitral through Lowari tunnel.

Snowfall on the mountainous region and incessant rain in the plains turned the weather chilly in Swat on Tuesday. The rain coupled with cold winds started late Monday night.

Battagram and its adjoining areas also received first snowfall of the winter season, while other parts of the district received widespread rains. The snowfall started at around 2am on Tuesday and soon enveloped all the hilltops surrounding the Battagram and Allai tehsils.

Heavy snowfall was also reported from the remote Chail Sar, Galey Maidan, Srei Oba. Allai hills received first snowfall during the first week of January.

The scenic Kaghan valley received first heavy snowfall of the season brining mercury down across Mansehra district on Tuesday. The snowfall which started last night continued entire day intermittently causing severe chill in district.

The valley which mostly received heavy snowfall in early October remained without snowfall even in December.

Tourists in very few numbers are also rushing to enjoy natural beauty of Kaghan valley coupled with snowfall but because of fear of snowfall could not proceed ahead from Kaghan.

Having already closed four checkposts in upper parts of valley, the Mansehra police closed one in Naran the other day fearing their personnel would be trapped there after snowfall.

“We have not been allowing tourists to go beyond Kaghan town as the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road has become dangerous for motorists due to heavy snowfall,” SHO of Kaghan police station Mohammad Tariq told Dawn.

Chitral valley received intermittent rain and snowfall in the early hours of Tuesday, which led to snowfall in upper parts of the district, including the valleys of Mulkhow, Torkhow and Mastuj.

The Lowari Pass Road has been closed for all kinds of vehicular traffic due to snowfall.

The cold wave gripped Bajaur Agency on Tuesday after receiving the first rain and snow of the season.

The rain began on Monday evening and continued until Tuesday evening causing the weather to become chillier.

Almost all mountainous areas in the agency received a heavy snowfall, which increased the misery of the people due to the suspension of electric supply to several hilly areas since Monday evening.

Published in Dawn January 4th, 2017