MANSEHRA: The Torghar district administration on Tuesday started distributing subsidised wheat flour to residents of the Meramadakheil area here as the commodity’s price has surged in the open market.

District food controller Mohammad Shakeel is supervising the flour distribution.

However, residents said that though the district administration was supplying a 20kg flour bag in Meramadakheil at Rs2,700, the same was being sold for Rs3,600 in the market.

Naseebroz Khan, a resident, said the administration should also ensure the supply of subsidised flour to other parts of the district to provide relief to people amid rising inflation.

Meanwhile, wheat flour prices have also increased in markets across the upper parts of Hazara division, with the price of a 20kg bag reportedly reaching Rs3,700.

The price of a 20kg bag of fine-quality flour has risen to Rs3,700 from Rs3,330 in most parts of Mansehra, Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan and Torghar districts, while that of super-quality flour increased to Rs3,400 from Rs3,000, placing an additional financial burden on people already struggling with high inflation.

Residents demanded that the government take action against hoarders and profiteers.

SNOWFALL: Upper parts of Hazara division received snowfall, as rain lashed plains, turning the weather chilly on Tuesday.

Snowfall began in Kaghan, Siren and Konsh valleys in Mansehra and Kandia and Spat valleys in Kohistan early in the morning and continued intermittently throughout the day.

Residents of Kaghan Valley said traffic between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan remained suspended via Babusar Top during the snowfall. The traffic was later resumed.

Rain lashed Mansehra, Torghar, Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan and Kolai-Palas districts throughout the day.

Rainwater flooded several sections of the Karakoram Highway, disrupting traffic for some time.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2026