PESHAWAR: A man was killed and another suffered injuries as rain lashed several parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday.

Also, mountainous areas of the province received the season’s first snowfall.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department said that in the last 24 hours, Saidu Sharif received 61mm of rain, Lower Dir 20, Kakul 19, Patan 15, Kalam 13, Upper Dir 11, Balakot 8 and Drosh 5.

Heavy rain, coupled with wind and hailstorm, lashed various parts of Lower Dir, disrupting life, damaging crops and paralysing traffic for several hours.

Crops damaged, traffic disrupted, power suspended in different cities

Hilltops like Kumrat, Lowari Top and Doog Dara also received the winter season’s first snowfall, which lowered temperatures in the region.

A man was killed and another injured when an old tree fell on a passenger van along the Talash-Sarai Payeen section of the main GT Road during the rainstorm.

The deceased was identified as Mohammad Hayat of Akhagram area in Upper Dir. Rescue 1122 personnel and volunteers retrieved the injured from under the van using heavy machinery. Mohammad Hayat, who was critically injured, succumbed to his wounds at the hospital.

According to local tubewell operator Amjad Ali, residents repeatedly requested the relevant department to remove the decaying tree, but no action was taken.

The rain and hailstorm, which started early in the morning, also caused significant damage to tomato and maize crops in Talash and Adenzai, while power supply was suspended in many areas and vehicular traffic remained severely affected.

The collapse of the tree blocked the main Peshawar-Chitral Road, connecting four districts, for several hours, leaving thousands of travelers and commuters stranded.

In another incident, a van was swept away by floodwater in Gulabad, Adenzai, though no casualties were reported.

The Rescue 1122 disaster team later recovered the vehicle by a crane.

The torrential rain and strong winds also disrupted the power supply in many localities, while the hailstorm destroyed tomato and other vegetable crops. Standing water on roads caused long traffic jams, and the sudden change in weather led to a sharp drop in temperature. Many residents were seen wearing warm clothes, while students at schools huddled together to stay warm.

Landslides and overflowing streams blocked several link roads in upper areas, creating difficulties for residents.

Upper parts of Hazara Division received the season’s first snowfall and heavy downpour on Monday, turning the weather chilly and forcing residents to take out warm clothing.

The snowfall, which began early in the morning in the high-altitude areas of Kaghan, Siren and Konsh valleys in Mansehra district and in Kandia and Spat valleys of Kohistan region, continued intermittently throughout the day.

“Though the beauty of valleys under the white blanket has become more enchanting, the biting cold has made it difficult to stay outdoors,” a visitor told reporters.

Babusar Top, Saiful Muluk lake, Basil and other mountainous stretches of the Kaghan Valley received the heaviest snowfall of the season, drawing tourists but also disrupting daily life.

Residents of upper parts of the Kaghan Valley have begun migrating to their winter abodes in Garhi Habibullah and other parts of Mansehra district as temperatures dropped sharply.

More than 80 per cent of hotels, restaurants and businesses in Naran, the valley’s main commercial hub, have already been shut down for the season.

Meanwhile, the low-lying areas of Hazara Division, including Mansehra, Torghar, Upper and Lower Kohistan, and Kolai-Palas, experienced a heavy and most intense downpour of the current winter, plunging many areas into darkness for over an hour.

“I have never witnessed such a phenomenon in my life. The rain was so heavy that it turned broad daylight into complete darkness for over an hour,” said Mohammad Ayub of Mansehra.

He added that while the winter chill had already set in, the continued downpour intensified the cold, forcing people to remain indoors for most of the day.

Heavy rain in the plains and snowfall in the upper mountainous regions on Tuesday significantly brought the temperatures down across Swat, turning the weather noticeably colder.

Snowfall was recorded in the scenic upper regions including Kalam, Matiltan, Gabral, Mahodand, Utror, Mankiyal, Gabin Jabba and Malam Jabba, where the first major snowfall of the season was welcomed by tourists but added to travel challenges for local residents.

In Mingora, the district headquarters, visibility remained low throughout the day due to dark clouds and rainfall, keeping traffic movement sparse and markets less crowded.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast more rain and snowfall in the coming days, advising tourists and residents in hilly areas to take precautionary measures.

The hailstorm coupled with light rains damaged vegetables, orchards and solar panels in several areas of Bajaur.

According to reports, the powerful hailstorm that started just after the rains at 10 am and lasted for about 30 minutes, was reported in several parts of the district.

However, the residents told Dawn that Lowi Mamund, War Mamund, Salarzai, Utmankhel, Barang tehsil and some rural areas of Khar tehsil were the areas most affected.

“The unusually powerful hailstones, which we had never seen before, not only damaged vegetables, orchards and solar panels but also turned the weather very cold in the entire district,” said Noor Khan of Biloot area in War Mamund.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2025