MINGORA: Weather turned chilly in Swat after the fresh spell of snowfall in the hilly areas, creating difficulties for the local people.

According to the residents of Kalam, Matiltan, Utror, Gabral and Mankial the snowfall started on Monday night and continued till Tuesday morning.

“We woke up to wintry snow-clad scenes with everything frozen around. This was the first snowfall of 2018 and second major snowfall of the season after December last year,” said Qari Bilal, a resident of Matiltan area. He added that snow enveloped the entire Matiltan valley.

He said that the fresh snowfall and cold weather created multiple problems for the residents of the area as it was difficult for them to come out of the houses.

“Over five feet snowfall was recorded on the mountains,” said Malik Dildar Hussain, a resident of Utror. He said that due to the fresh snowfall, only 4x4 jeeps could move to the area while other vehicles were unable to ply on the road.

“We are already facing shortage of food and medicines. Another snowfall can multiply our problems,” he added.

On the other hand, the snowfall in the upper Swat valley attracted a large number of tourists from lower Swat as well as from across the country.

“We are going to Kalam and Ushsu valleys to enjoy the snowfall there as we love to see and capture the snowy beauty of the area,” said Adil Khan, a resident of Mingora, who was travelling to Kalam with his friends.

Many tourists from Mardan and Peshawar were also going to Kalam. They said that Kalam, Utror and Matiltan valleys looked totally different after the snowfall. They added that they visited the valleys every year to enjoy the scenes.

“Though every mountainous part of the northern areas look beautiful in the snowfall yet Kalam wears a different look, which is unique and more beautiful. That’s why we visit the area in every snowfall,” said Mohsin Ali, a tourist from Islamabad, who was going to Kalam with his friends and family members.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2018