ISLAMABAD, Dec 3: Snow, driving rains and howling winds on Sunday hit the country, especially the earthquake-affected areas in the north and Balochistan, causing road blocks, disruption in air travel and power breakdowns.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, December’s first snowfall caused a sharp drop in temperature in the Northern Areas, with mercury in Skardu falling to minus five degrees centigrade. Heavy snowfall

Snowfall of 1.5 feet and four feet was recorded in Galliyat and Kaghan Valley, respectively. Lowari Top, the only land route linking the region with the rest of the country has been closed by heavy snowfall. A vehicle was buried under the snow on the Lowari Top and its driver was rescued after about 16 hours.

A Met official said Gwadar was lashed by heavy rains (71 millimetres). He added that even Jacobabad, one of the hottest cities in the country, received torrential rains.

The PMD director-general, Dr Qamaruzzaman Chaudhry, said the rain spell would continue for at least three days. He added that the earthquake-hit areas in the NWFP and Azad Kashmir would receive more snow and rains.

A private television reported the highway to Naran and a section of road between Abbotabad and Murree were closed for traffic following a heavy snowfall. A vehicular traffic link between Karachi and Quetta was affected when hill torrents washed away a portion of the RCD highway in Lasbella.

An air link to Gilgit was also snapped. Gilgil, Naltar and Hunza valleys received the season’s first snowfall on Sunday.

Rains caused massive power breakdowns throughout the country, especially Karachi where the city government declared a state of emergency.

Balochistan’s cities that were lashed by winter rains included Barkhan (57mm) , Kalat (42mm), Lasbella (39mm), Sibi (21mm), Pasni (20mm), Quetta (15mm), and Turbat (11mm).

Ziarat received the season’s first snowfall.—Agencies