Muzaffarabad, Margalla Hills receive first snowfall in 10 years

PMD claims heavy rainfall along with snow likely to continue till Friday

MUZAFFARABAD: The northern areas of Pakistan wear blanketed in white as the capital city of Azad Jammu and Kashmir as well as Margalla Hills in Islamabad received their first snowfall in 10 years.

Muzaffarabad and Margalla Hills of Islamabad received intermittent snowfall on Thursday after a decade. The mountains, including Pir Suhawa, wore a white snow cover and a cold wave gripped the twin cities.







As temperatures hit zero or below in some parts, including upper areas of Neelum Valley, Leepa Valley, Bagh Chakar and Rawalkot, attendance in government-run offices, schools and colleges remained bleak.



Residents of Muzaffarabad and its adjoining areas enjoyed the snow on Thursday, as it began at 9:00am and lasted for over 10 minutes.



While the village Kel in AJK's Neelum Valley received about two feet of snow, Bagh and Tolipir areas received half as much as Kel.



Following the snowfall, temperature plummeted to zero in parts of Muzaffarabad, Hatian Bala and Neelum Valley.



"Heavy snowfall was reported in Mansehra District and Abbottabad which blocked KKH and other district roads in various areas," a spokesperson for PDMA said.



"PDMA directed deputy commissioner Abbottabad and Mansehra are likely to send heavy machinery at such locations."

PHOTO: SANA OMER GHANI

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted that rain showers will continue in several areas, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sargodha, K-P, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir till Friday.

Students come out from their school under snow fall in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir, on February 11, 2016. PHOTO: AFP PHOTO

Female students come out from their school under snow fall in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir, on February 11, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

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