QUETTA: Parts of northern and central Balochistan, including the provincial capital, were in the grip of chilly Siberian winds that brought the mercury down to minus 7 degrees Celsius here and minus 8 in Kalat on Monday.

The temperature recorded in Ziarat Valley was minus 7 degrees Celsius in the morning.

The Met office predicted that temperatures would further drop over the next 24 hours as cold winds would continue to lash the region for another three to four days.

Roads in the city and on its outskirts wore a deserted look as the cold weather forced people to remain indoors.

With the drop in the temperature, gas supply to several localities of Quetta and surrounding areas was suspended, increasing the hardship of people.

“We are receiving very low gas pressure,” Javed Ahmed, a resident of Shahbaz town, told Dawn, adding that the Sui Southern Gas Company had started unannounced loadshedding in Quetta.

Gas supply was also severely affected in Ziarat, Pishin, Mastung, Kalat and some other areas.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2017