UPPER DIR: The upper parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa received heavy snowfall for the third straight day on Monday, while rain continued to lash plains, bringing life to a standstill.

Mountains in Upper Dir, including tourist spots like Kumrat, Lowari Top, Doog Dara, received heavy snowfall, while the plains received third spell of the rain on Monday.

According to reports, Kumrat and Lowari Top had received three to four feet snow, while Kalkot, Thal, Ganhshal, Hatan Dara and Gwaldai received one to two feet of snow.

In Abbottabad, the heaviest snowfall of the current winter season lashed Galyat and Thandiyani, while the number of tourists, who ignored official warnings not to travel during the snowfall, remained stranded in Nathtia Gali as the main Abbottabad-Murree road was closed to traffic at several places.

GDA officials were busy clearing the road using heavy machinery, while the roads in Galyat were closed due to continuous rains and snowfall. Two to three feet snow was recorded on the main road in Galyat.

In Shangla, all parts of the district continued to receive heavy snowfall for third consecutive day, blocking roads and disrupting power supply.

About four to five feet snow was recorded in upper parts, while Alpuri, Lelonai, Chakesar and other plains received six inches to one foot of snow.

In Mansehra, the urban parts of three Kohistan districts received the first snowfall of the winter season blocking vehicular traffic between Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan on the Karakoram Highway at various points.

The snowfall, which started in early morning continued intermittently the entire day.

Karakoram Highway was blocked at various points because of heavy snowfall in Upper and Lower Kohistan districts. Electricity supply was also suspended in these districts.

Also, Mansehra and Torghar districts received heavy rain and snowfall. In Battagram, heavy snowfall blocked the KKH and other roads.

The KKH was blocked at Chattar Top due to which commuters were facing hardships.

According to the district administration, C&W department had sent machinery to start clearing KKH at Chattar Top.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2019