Dense fog blankets major cities across Punjab

Motorway Police advise citizens to use fog lights while travelling

LAHORE: The intensity of cold increased across Punjab, including the provincial capital, and dense fog covered the plains of the province. Citizens had to face difficulties in travelling as Motorway M2 was closed for vehicular traffic from Kot Momen to Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Lahore.

Thick fog blanketed many cities of Punjab including Lahore. Mangamandi, Pattoki Renala Khurd, Okara, Gamber, Sahiwal, Harappa, Chicha Watni, Mian Chunnu, Khaniwal, Multan, Lodhran, Musafir Khana, Bahawalpur, Muridke, Kamoke, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura and Kasur.



The motorway police spokesperson said there was fog on national highways and motorways. Fog engulfed Lahore’s main highways including Jail Road, Mall Road, Ring Road, Band Road and GT Road. The flow of traffic was affected due to reduced visibility levels.

The Motorway Police spokesperson further said Multan-Khaniwal Motorway, M2 Motorway from Lahore to Kot Momen, Pindi Bhatian Faisalabad and Gojra motorway have been closed for traffic. He said the visibility level was between zero and 30 metres. The official advised drivers to use fog lights while driving and avoid unnecessary travelling.

On the other hand, the metrological department has forecast cold and dry weather in most of the country. Fog is expected in the plains of Punjab, Upper Sindh and Peshawar division during the morning and night hours while hailstorm is expected in some upper areas of the country.



The met office said during the last 24 hours, said that rain and snowfall occurred in the areas of Malakand, Hazara, Rawalpindi division, Islamabad and Kashmir, Sahiwal, Lahore, Bahawalpur division and Gilgit-Baltistan. A maximum of 13 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in Murree, 7mm in Syedpur, 15mm in Balakot and 9mm in Pattan. Meanwhile, Murree recorded five inches of snowfall and there was three inches in Kalam and Malamjabba.

The lowest temperature on Wednessay was recorded at -8 degrees Celsius in Skardu, -7 degrees Celsius in Gopas and -2 Celsius in Rawalakot and Quetta.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2019.