Districts notified of anticipated snowfall

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued an alert for all districts in the province in anticipation of heavy snowfall and rainfall, as forecasted by the Met Office. The PDMA aims to mitigate potential risks and enhance preparedness for any emergency situations that may arise.

All deputy commissioners across the region have received instructions to take precautionary measures and ensure the availability of necessary equipment and machinery to effectively address any emergencies. In a letter addressed to district administrations, it was highlighted that the anticipated rainfall would bring relief to urban centers, clearing the dense fog that has shrouded cities for the past month.

For districts with mountainous terrain and popular hill stations, deputy commissioners have been specifically directed to inform tourists and locals about the severe weather conditions. This outreach is crucial, as the adverse weather conditions may lead to road closures. The PDMA has emphasized the importance of conveying this information in regional languages to ensure effective communication with the local population.

A letter from the PDMA to all districts further instructs deputy commissioners to take proactive steps in opening alternative routes for traffic in case highways are blocked due to heavy snowfall or landslides in mountainous areas. The forecast suggests that the rain and snowfall will persist until January 31, with intermittent intervals, urging tourists to prepare accordingly.

Recalling the ongoing efforts, PDMA, under the guidance of the relief, rehabilitation, and settlement department, has already formulated the Winter Contingency Plan for 2023-24. This plan aims to address various natural hazards that the province may encounter during the winter season. It covers strategies to manage hazards such as extreme low temperatures, fog, smog, snowfall, rainfall, landslides, flash floods, and seismic activities in the mountainous north and west.

Read: Snowless winter hit tourism hard

PDMA Director General Muhammad Qaisar Khan highlighted the collaborative nature of the Winter Contingency Plan 2023-24, initiated in October 2023. Key stakeholders involved include the federal government, provincial line departments, district administration, UNDP GLOF-II, and other development partners. Digital tools for data collection have been developed and shared, providing information on district-specific hazards, vulnerability profiles, hazard impacts, damages, compensation details, resource mapping, need assessment, and coordination efforts.

The plan offers a comprehensive overview of winter hazard profiles for each district in the province, detailing composite risk scores based on various hazards and outlining corresponding risks. It estimates the vulnerable population in cases of emergencies and guides districts in mapping vulnerable sites and developing contingency plans. The plan also identifies the roles and responsibilities of various departments to ensure a coordinated response to unfavorable scenarios.

The province faces a range of winter hazards, each presenting unique challenges such as disruptions in daily life, road closures, building collapses, landslides, and shortages of supplies. Through proactive planning and coordination, the Winter Contingency Plan aims to mitigate the impact of these hazards and enhance the province’s resilience in the face of adverse winter conditions.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27^th, 2024.