QUETTA: Parts of Balochistan, including Quetta, were battered by snowfall and downpour on Wednesday, which disrupted traffic and led to hours-long power outages in many areas.

Mobile and communication services were also affected in many areas, making it difficult for residents and tourists to establish contact with their families and get information about weather.

Rain and snowfall started in the early hours of the day in Quetta, Ziarat, Pishin, Muslim Bagh, Kan Mehtarzai, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Chaman, Kalat, Mastung, Toba Achakzai and many other areas.

It continued throughout the day with small intervals. Traffic between Quetta and Kandahar has also been suspended due to heavy snowfall at Khojak Pass, which links Quetta with Chaman.

The rain and snowfall continued in the Quetta valley and surrounding areas until late in the night, dropping the mercury to as low as -7 degrees Celsius in Quetta and -9 in Ziarat and Kalat. However, hundreds of people rushed to Hanna and Urak valleys to enjoy snowfall despite extremely cold weather.

Ziarat, Kan Mehtarzai, Muslim Bagh, Khanozai and Kalat have received over two feet of snow so far, which blocked roads and highways linking Balochistan with Punjab and Dera Ismail Khan. Heavy traffic has been suspended for Punjab and other areas as roads have become slippery.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has asked people to avoid unnecessary journeys towards parts of northern areas of the province, as the continuing snowfall affected traffic flow at Kan Mehtarzai and roads leading to Ziarat and some others areas.

The Met department has predicted more rain and snowfall over the hills in Balochistan on Thursday. A westerly wave is likely to enter northern areas of the province on Jan 18 and produce rain and snowfall until Jan 19.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2023