PESHAWAR: Rain and snowfall lashed several areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday without report of any casualty.

In the provincial capital, a light drizzle continued throughout the day. However, it did not result into inundation of roads and congestion of traffic. Besides, no information of any causality was received till filing of this report.

In Swat, on the second day of the holy month of Ramazan, snowfall on the mountains and rainfall in the plains brought the temperature further down and attracted tourists. However, the rain and snowfall brought hardships for local vendors and shopkeepers.

Worshippers, finding solace in the sudden cold snap, expressed delight over the change in the weather. They said that fasting was easy in the cool weather. “The cold weather has been a blessing for us during Ramazan,” said Ali Khan, a resident of Rang Mohalla, as he enjoyed the cool breeze outside a mosque.

Tourists also thronged popular destinations such as Malam Jabba and Kalam to revel in the snowfall, undeterred by the fasting month. Despite the religious observance, visitors from cities like Rawalpindi found joy in the natural beauty and pleasant climate.

The rain, which started in Mansehra, Kolai-Palas, Torghar, Upper Kohistan and Lower Kohistan districts in early morning, continued intermittently for the entire day and turned the weather cold.

The links roads in Siren, Konsh and Kaghan valleys in Mansehra were blocked to traffic because of landslide triggered by the rain.

Similarly, light rain lashed Lakki city and parts of Lakki Marwat district on Wednesday, prompting the officials of municipal administration to mobilise workers and machinery of the civic body to clean roads and clogged drains.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2024