PESHAWAR: Mercury dipped to minus 1 degree Celsius in Peshawar on Saturday as cold wave continued to grip Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The local Met office said that it was the second time in the current winter season that the temperature plunged to minus 1 degree Celsius in the provincial capital. The cold wave has gripped other parts of the province too.

Maximum temperature recorded in Peshawar was 17 degrees Celsius on Saturday. According to the Met office, the current spell was likely to continue till January 15.

According to the forecast, light rain is expected in Peshawar valley in the next three to four days while hilly areas of the province would receive snow.

The long cold wave continues to grip other parts of the province. The lowest temperature was recorded in Kalam, Swat, where the mercury dropped to minus 6 degrees Celsius. Similarly, temperature in Upper Dir district remained minus 5 degrees Celsius, while in Parachinar it was recorded at minus 3 degrees Celsius.

The cold wave has caused respiratory infections in the provincial capital. Heavy rush of customers was witnessed at the outlets of chicken soup, fish and carrot halwa to beat the cold weather.

The residents of the provincial metropolis and other parts of the province face problems in going out from their homes and carrying out their routine work due to the biting cold.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2018