Most parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) received heavy downpour and snowfall in the mountainous areas on Wednesday, which added to winter nip in the air.
Peshawar experienced heavy downpour which dragged the temperature further down as rain started at around 2 o’clock in the morning and continued till Wednesday afternoon.
It further aggravated the problems of the general public as there is a severe shortage of Sui gas and parts of the district are also facing power shutdowns.
Rainwater inundated most low-lying areas of the city.
According to Met Office, snow and rain will continue on Thursday as well across the province and it will cause mercury to drop further.
Chitral Upper and Lower, Dir Upper, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, Swat, Shangla and other districts received heavy snow.
In Dir Upper two inches of snow was recorded, forcing the district administration to issue instructions to the drivers travelling on Chitral Road as Lowari Top has been completely covered in snow and speeding could result in traffic mishap.
People using public or private transport have been advised to avoid travelling early in the morning as well as after nightfall and use snow chains so that their vehicles could not be stuck in snow.
Drivers have been directed to keep their lights on all the time while driving as fog has greatly reduced visibility and do not cross the speed limits for their own safety.
Meanwhile, Parachinar wears a white snow blanket, turning it into a snowy paradise.
It has also forced locals to wear warm cloths and use protein-rich food to ward off the cold.
Mountain ranges received four to eight inches of snow in Kurram.
Similarly, Hangu and Kohat received downpour like adjacent Peshawar and Karak.
“There has been going on a snowfall on the mountain ranges and heavy downpour in the lower plains, increasing the cold manifold. It is not possible to sit in your shop without lighting a fire,” said a local of Lower Dir while talking to The Express Tribune.
He said the marketplaces remained mostly deserted following the heavy rainfall and snow and people stayed inside their offices and homes.
Heavy rain was also recorded in Lower Swat including Mingora and its surroundings and snowfall was witnessed in Malam Jabba, Kalam, Mahudand, Gabeen Jabba and other parts of Upper Swat.
The snowfall for the past few days has attracted thousands of tourists to the picnic spots of Swat who are enjoying the winter chill.
The famous Kalasha valley in Chitral Lower also received heavy snow, causing the temperature to drop to minus seven.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2023.
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